Is it a damage-dealer? Is it the world's greatest tank? TERA's Lancer can do it all!

ZAM: There have been rumors that, in PvP, the Lancer will be able to physically stand between his squishy back line and oncoming foes, thereby forcing enemy players to face the Lancer or take the long way around. Does this mean players will be able to actually form phalanx shield walls in order to dictate the flow of the battlefield?

David: Yes they can! But it's worth noting that such a shield wall isn't impenetrable, and the "long way around" doesn't mean a traditional flanking maneuver if you have certain…let's say "circumventing" movement powers.

ZAM: Given the free-flowing nature of TERA and some of the Lancer's harassing abilities like Shield Bash and Leash, it seems that, instead of being an exclusive shield wall as in PvE, the Lancer will become more of a battlefield general in PvP, protecting his allies and forcing his enemies to pay attention via harassment and positioning, rather than AoE taunts. What does En Masse really see for the Lancer's role in a PvP skirmish?

David: You have it right-they are not only tough nuts to crack, but they make everyone around them tougher. Separating a lancer from his allies through clever maneuvering is one elegant solution for the tactical dilemma. Obliterating the lancer works, too-if you can pull it off.

ZAM: To get back to PvE, it's been stated time and time again, that the Lancer will be the strong frontline unit that squishier characters, like Archers and Sorcerers, will be able to take refuge behind. On the other hand, some Lancers might just get the idea to taunt and sit behind their shield for the entire duration of a fight; what mechanics are there to reward smart Lancer play? What battle options does a smart Lancer have in the heat of battle?

David: Relying on taunts alone is unlikely to work for several reasons. For starters, it leaves a lot of potential damage unused; that lance is pointy for a reason! A taunt-only lancer will fall behind the threat curve, too. Finally, sitting behind your shield isn't an automatic thing-a good fight poses continual timing and positioning challenges. The smart lancer is acutely aware of both his offensive and defensive responsibilities, and he's trying to anticipate not only what the enemy will do, but how his friends are moving around.

ZAM: In many games, there is the idea that physical attacks and magical attacks are two entirely separate realms of damage, and the stigma that most tank classes with massive armor are, in fact, ill equipped to handle magical assaults. Some MMORPGs have circumvented this problem by giving their tanks special sets of magical resistance armor, while other games have simply made their tanks mitigate all damage, regardless of source. Will Lancers cope with magical attacks in the same way that they weather physical attacks (that is, with good positioning and a strong shield), or will Lancers need to employ different tactics against caster enemies.

David: The overall mitigation techniques are the same, but a lancer has a few tricks up his sleeve for caster enemies. TERA intentionally does without a lot of the specific resistance gear, because it's not much fun to collect, say, fire resistance armor just because you need it for one boss fight.

ZAM: And that's all we have for this round of questions about TERA's Lancer class! It certainly sounds as though this will be a unique take on the age-old 'tank' archetype. Rarely has the Lance been utilized in fantasy gaming, much less an action MMO! We look forward to seeing these massive Lancers roaming the land; it shouldn't be too hard to spot them! Thank you for your time!

David: And thanks for the interest! As we get closer to launch, we look forward to delving into greater detail about the lancer-and the other seven classes in TERA.