The harp is a lie.

[camjay]

To the OP: I agree with poster 3 or 4, can't remember who it was. But they said it was a mix of a harp/musical instrument, and a bow/crossbow of some sort. TO me, that's freaking awesome! And given the way FF does things, I think it's completely reasonable and a realistic guess. It has my vote

[Anonymoose]

Wrong, entirely.

Personally, I wholly disregard the opinion of anyone who puts forth their speculation as a violently defended fact. Have you read back through the thread and seen the image I posted of the Bow in "expanded," and "collapsed" mode compared to the image of the harp that already exists in the game? Even the DAT Art Packet for the already existent bard harp (clearly visible in the Marauder's Guild) breaks most of the "rules" you just created.

I'm sorry your mind can't wrap itself around the idea that sometimes, in fantasy worlds, real world standards are not maintained. It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to be fun. It might very well be a bow-harp, and I think it probably is. Does that mean I'm claiming that there's no way that the bow could collapse into that shape, be held horizontally, and fire 5 crossbow bolts at a time? Not at all.
It could be anything - they do look like little arrows just as much as they do locks and swivels for strings. The image is very ambiguous with the little details.

Where were you naysayers when FFXI introduced airships? "BUT THOSE PROPELLERS COULD NEVER LIFT A SHIP OF THAT SIZE! F##K THIS GAME, IT'S GOING IN A TERRIBLE DIRECTION! BOOOO!"

[Malakhim]

Next thing you guys know, SE will be coming up with various types of gunweapons from blades to lances, big ass flightless yellow birds, and little squirrel things with rubies on their foreheads.

That'd be so stupid.

[NoctisUmbra]

Wrong, entirely.

Evidence against a harp:

-No harp ever made has strings that are all the same length
-No harp ever made used "rivets" which people claim the arrowheads are, to hold strings in place. Never. They use brass spool-like things, and it has always been brass because they make better sounds.
-No harp has the spools for adjustment at the bottom half of the harp, which people are suggesting the arrowheads are. They are always at the top, front side. For ease of use, and to ensure they dont get bumped when youre setting the harp down.
-Most harps dont have strings all of equal thickness. They get gradually thicker as they go just like a guitar.
-No harp has ARROW FLETCHINGS at the top of it ON THE STRINGS.
-No harp has ARROW HEADS.
-No harp is attached to a freakin' bow.

-if it was a lyre, every string would always be different thicknesses to produce different sounds. No exceptions.

Notice how all the evidence I put up for pro-harp/lyre is based on actual dev posts and confirmed information as well as in-game facts whereas your evidence is just a bunch of facts about real-life harps. Not to mention what you see as "arrowheads" is simply negative space - look at the shape again.

Comparing to a real-life harp design is silly once you wrap your head around the idea that this design is meant to transform into and from a bow. The idea of comparing real life design to how it is represented in-game is silly. There is something called iconic simplification - often used in video games and other artwork:

http://www.acoustics-engineering.com..._with_lyre.jpg
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/...tures/lyre.jpg
http://www.eleonoravulpiani.com/lire/mosaico%202.jpg
http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/7/71/Medli_TWW.png

There are actually probably 5 or 6 strings on it. The 5th string could be hidden behind the top "bow" part on the intrument, and the 6th might be the bowstring itself when folded. Whatever the case, it's an artistic interpretation of an instrument and as such is up for iconic simplification.

@MeowMeow: Nice try. I wouldn't start my post with "Wrong, entirely." though. In this case, it's quite ironic.

[AsterBarnivere]

Personally, I wholly disregard the opinion of anyone who puts forth their speculation as a violently defended fact. Have you read back through the thread and seen the image I posted of the Bow in "expanded," and "collapsed" mode compared to the image of the harp that already exists in the game? Even the DAT Art Packet for the already existent bard harp (clearly visible in the Marauder's Guild) breaks most of the "rules" you just created.

I'm sorry your mind can't wrap itself around the idea that sometimes, in fantasy worlds, real world standards are not maintained. It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to be fun. It might very well be a bow-harp, and I think it probably is. Does that mean I'm claiming that there's no way that the bow could collapse into that shape, be held horizontally, and fire 5 crossbow bolts at a time? Not at all.
It could be anything - they do look like little arrows just as much as they do locks and swivels for strings. The image is very ambiguous with the little details.

Where were you naysayers when FFXI introduced airships? "BUT THOSE PROPELLERS COULD NEVER LIFT A SHIP OF THAT SIZE! F#@K THIS GAME, IT'S GOING IN A TERRIBLE DIRECTION! BOOOO!"

Now now moose, take a chill pill, eat some grass, relax, were all friends here, no need for such profane language, I suggest you edit it before a Mod gets whiff of your profanity.

[Volsung]

I can't stop laughing at the insane amount of people that are trying to apply real world musical instrument construction rules to A VIDEOGAME SET IN A FANTASY WORLD WITH DRAGONS AND BEAST PEOPLE.

Seriously.

no joke, this has gotten out of hand. We're even talking about how many strings the harp/lyre in question is drawn with? hell in 4 warriors of light the harp weapons have 3 strings. Its to get the point across....

[Konachibi]

Whether it's a bow or a harp or some kind of amazing redesign of a fishing net, there's one simple thing that people are ignoring whilst shouting their "real harps/lyres don't do this" pieces:

Final FANTASY XIV

I will also admit I got mixed into that crowd during the spur of the moment and 'harped' on about what a harp/lyre looks like in reality, but then it only took one look at the game case to remind why reality means so little in this game.

[Anonymoose]

Now now moose, take a chill pill, eat some grass, relax, were all friends here, no need for such profane language, I suggest you edit it before a Mod gets whiff of your profanity.

B---butbut.... but ...
but that outburst was calculated and purpouseful... [sniffles and eats his grass]

You're right about the f-bomb, though. Usually I remember to censor those, lol. (Might wanna do that in your quote as well).

[MeowMeow]

I can't stop laughing at the insane amount of people that are trying to apply real world musical instrument construction rules to A VIDEOGAME SET IN A FANTASY WORLD WITH DRAGONS AND BEAST PEOPLE.

Seriously.

I can't stop laughing when people make stupid comments like this about the game with the most realistic armor and weapon designs. This game's armor and weapon designs are far less fantasy than every major MMO out there.

[Konachibi]

I can't stop laughing when people make stupid comments like this about the game with the most realistic armor and weapon designs. This game's armor and weapon designs are far less fantasy than every major MMO out there.

And so is our ability to shoot fireballs, magically heal wounds and make arrows glow bright purple before firing them from bows.

mmm, realism...