Lance
A Lance is a weapon (and also a name, but traditional games are usually more interested in the weapon).
History
Historically, lances are large pole weapons employed by mounted warriors. The idea is to convert momentum directly into penetration, especially for piercing armored opponents. Basically every fantasy setting ever has lances of this type, such as the knights of Bretonnia.
Strictly speaking, lances are never thrown (they aren't meant to be, anyway); they are carried under the arm of the wielder. A thrown polearm is more properly called a javelin.
Remember to boil your lance before you lance your boil.
Warhammer 40,000
Imperial Guard Rough Riders carry "hunting lances" which generally fit the traditional pattern, although they have added an explosive charge to the tip. Each Rider only gets one, though -- evidently, Riders and horses are cheaper than hunting lances.
Warhammer 40,000 also has a "Lance" special rule which applies to some weapons: a weapon with the "Lance" rule treats all armor values greater than 12 as if they were 12 (which is useful for penetrating the armor of Land Raiders and Monoliths).
Battlefleet Gothic
In Battlefleet Gothic, lances are giant laser turrets the size of apartment buildings and a few football fields wide and long. Known to fuck all kinds of shit and ruin everyone's day. Its barrels are so fucking massive they could fire three story houses if needed. Mainly fitted on Imperial Navy ships and traitor fleet ships. Eldar have something like lances too but they aren't filled with hate like Imperial ones.
Lances come in 3 fun sizes, single barreled to triple barreled. Doubles and triples go on anything larger than a battlecruiser.
The 'Lance' beam itself is a concentrated laser filled with FUCK YOU AND RAGE which is known to one-hit anything smaller than said battlecruisers. The Imperium also built the Apocalypse-class battleship with lots of lance turrets, in fact fires those turrets as Broadsides.
Warhammer Fantasy
These are what make cavalry hurt on the charge. Grant +2 strength when charging.
| Medieval Weaponry | |
|---|---|
| Melee Weapons: |
Battleaxe - Dagger - Lance - Mace - Club Pole-arm - Spear - Sword - Warhammer |
| Ranged Weapons: |
Blowgun - Bows and Arrows - Cannon Crossbow - Firearm - Rocket - Shuriken - Sling - Incendiary Weapons - Artillery |
| Armor: | Armor - Fantasy Armor - Helmet - Pauldron - Shield |