So.... What exactly is this? [Stormblood Speculation]

[Aniya_Estlihn]

I still think it could be for whatever the third new job is. Besides at this point it doesn't really matter. Because Stormblood is still months away and we don't even know what the third new job is gonna be.

There's no "thinking" needed when we outright know from the press information that it's the Bard AF.

[Jeycht]

Didn't they already say we'll only have 2 new jobs?

btw about that pic. There is tons of details that prove it's bard gear. THE most obvious for me is gloves. One of the glove have 2 fingers free. Like some other bards gloves, 2 exact same fingers. Never seen that for other jobs except for bard. (they hold the string with that hand)
The bagpipe can be another details, the mog IS an obvious one too. Similar hat and "robe" already exist.

[Fevelle]

Didn't they already say we'll only have 2 new jobs?

No. What was said by the dev team is that the number of jobs has a relation to 2016's Moonfire Faire.

[BHGlobbd]

Technically yes, but the tweet that it was said in was taken down. Even so, YoshiP has stated before that the 3 HW jobs were a pain in the ass make and that they likely would not do 3 jobs at the same time again.

[Jonah_Greymont]

It's not a slim possibility it's anything else. No other job is known for instruments period, certainly not Blue Mage of all things. It's cut and dry bard.

Geomancer has used Bells, which are decidedly an instrument. Still, I can admit defeat when I see the writing on the wall. I was unaware of the press announcement that this was in fact the Bard AF, which I've found since I started this thread. I did do some research prior to posting this, but nothing came up until I scrolled down and read through multiple hits. I haven't seen the gear you referenced in the photos either. As I stated in the OP, I recognized this as wild speculation at best anyway and was looking for verification on what it actually was, hence the thread title.

All in all, still good to see the passion in the community for what they hope will come about. Even if Blue Mage is incoming with Stormblood, I would hope everyone acknowledges that the Bard AF is hardly evidence of that. Thanks for the discussion!

[NorthernLadMSP]

If you look at concept artworks for elezens, they are extremely pretty and proportinate.

If they looked like the artwork I would go Elezen and never change. Unfortunately, what we have in game is a far cry from the artwork.

[Jonah_Greymont]

If they looked like the artwork I would go Elezen and never change. Unfortunately, what we have in game is a far cry from the artwork.

They took the Elvaan model from FFXI and ran with it, it seems. Very lanky and awkward.

[Maero]

That is probably Bard, but one could then say is the 2nd image before that (Pink Outfit) Dancer??

[Jonah_Greymont]

That is probably Bard, but one could then say is the 2nd image before that (Pink Outfit) Dancer??

That one is definitely White Mage AF.