games.on.net: In terms of pure speculation, the guardian profession appears to have a classic "paladin" feeling, with a sword and shield, and a name that conjures up feelings of protection. Is this an apt comparison?

Jon: With Guild Wars 2 it's important not to get hung up on old archetypes, because every profession has its own ways to play the different combat roles. Rather, it's more important to focus on how the guardian plays. He is a heavy armor character that can wade into battle. The guardian is all about sacrificing his personal powers to support his allies. To give an example, guardians have a shield skill called Shield of Absorption. This skill creates a dome around the guardian that absorbs enemy projectiles.

However, you can learn a trait for this skill to actually knock enemies away outside of the dome. In a recent battle I had, an ally had fallen and was being finished off when I brought my guardian in, used Shield of Absorption to knock enemies away and then revived my ally within the protective shield.

games.on.net: Logan Thackeray was known to wield a hammer, with runes that could be used to heal. What weapons can the guardian use?

Jon: The guardian can wield both physical and magical weapons including: sword, mace, scepter, greatsword, hammer, and staff. He can accompany his sword, mace, or scepter with a shield, magical focus item, or torch.

Charr Guardian (Chardian)

games.on.net: What niche does the guardian fulfill in terms of gameplay, and how does it complement the role of the warrior profession?

Jon: The guardian is the more subtle of the two soldier professions. They rely a lot on positioning and ground control to manage a battle. They move around the battlefield, supporting their allies with powerful attacks and protective magic. By contrast, the warrior is a brute force soldier who relies mostly on direct contact with enemies. For example, a guardian will keep enemies at bay by placing a ward on the ground that they cannot pass through. On the other hand, a warrior will accomplish the same goal by pulling out a mace and stunning the enemies. Players who love to help others will really find a home in the guardian, because their core mechanic is a constant question of empowering themselves or allies with their virtues.

games.on.net: Can you confirm that the "Blue Mace Lady" that fans have been postulating about forever is, in fact, a guardian? Is she a character that will feature in the game, and if so, what can you tell us about her?

Jon: The blue mace lady is in fact a guardian. Who she might be is still a mystery.

games.on.net: With the reveal of the guardian, does that mean all of the soldiers for GW2 have been announced? Any hints about what other classes we can expect, and - the question on everyone's lips - will the mesmer return?

Jon: Yes, this does mean that all of the soldiers have been announced. What's next? Two more adventurers and one more scholar...

Thanks to Jon for taking the time to answer our questions!