Edit: **** NOTE!! The info in this thread is now obsolete. ****
Negative balance no longer directly affects standard combat numbers. Instead, each point of negative balance is a percentage toward a possible fumble. This means that at -25 balance, you've got a whopping 25% chance to fumble offense AND defense rolls. Yikes. So work on keeping that balance at acceptable levels.
Balance-reducing moves should therefore be more valuable. Unbalance your foe and watch them fumble their rolls. Cue some moves that are easier to hit with than normal attacks and cause balance loss to the target in order to help even the odds against foes who have higher combat number than you, or are turtled up in a defensive stance.
Negative balance and fumbles
Negative balance and fumbles
<Rias> PUT ON PANTS
<Fellborn> NO
<Fellborn> NO