Can any game system ever truly be balanced? Part 1

Maintaining balance can be difficult!!!

This is a philosophical debate that I have had many times over the years with many friends, passers by and random strangers you meet gaming. Sure it's not as high brow as maybe the 'meaning of life' or some of the more fundamental debates that have taxed and entertained some of the greatest minds humanity has produced... but it's just as perplexing. However before I start rambling nonsense I think it's best if I first define the debate so as not to confuse or leave myself open to wandering off all over the place.

By 'game system' I mean the core rule set that governs the mechanics of any given game and the various choices or factions you have within that rule set. So for something like Warmachine I'd say the game system is the core rulebook, the individual faction books and now Wrath. For now I'll leave out Hordes and or the factions contained within that rule set. By balance I mean that the core rules don't favour one certain type of tactic or gamer and treat all stratagems as equally valid and that the choices between armies are balanced and that certain missions etc. don't favour one side over another.

For now I will leave out the individual choices that can be taken within factions as that would just blow this topic wide open, and I fear it might be too big to tackle within my lifetime already. I want to be clear though that this isn't going to talk specifically about certain games and whether or not they are or aren't balanced, it's more an abstract piece so I'm not out to make any individual points about any given system although I might use examples from systems to illustrate a point, if you get my meaning.

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