Bard using Harp

[Kazrah]

Lets also keep in mind that its not completely outside the realm of possibility to have jobs sharing the same type of weapon. Even though SCH and SMN were 'intended' to be that way since they originate from one class, people can not honestly believe there is a difference between a cane that a WHM uses and staff that a BLM uses. They are essentially the same thing. So it is easy for SE to just add more jobs with similar weapon types in the future with just different models and stances.

BLM and WHM may be considered two sides of the same coin, but they are not "essentially the same thing". Another thing too is that the BLM weapon is considered a rod, which is slightly smaller than a WHM staff, so no, BLM and WHM technically don't use the same weapon. Also, just because they can make multiple jobs with the same weapon type doesn't make it a good idea. In fact, it's been repeated stated that the ARC/SMN/SCH approach was considered one of the biggest failures in terms of job creation just because of how the stat system effectively barred you from playing both jobs to their fullest without constantly having to buy stat point reset items, and even then, SMN and SCH use mostly the same emotes and animations anyway.

Now back to the main subject, Bards using bows actually makes sense when you read the background for the job, about how it would sing while fighting to bolster their allies and spur them on. The real issue with it right now is really that it's kinda in this sort of role limbo where it could either be more focused on damage or more focused on the songs and the support element, and I don't think anyone really knows which direction to take it in. Heavensward only seems to have made it worse with the whole "bowmage" feel in an attempt to give it more damage (which at first was a failure) and fights at the start of Heavensward being more about how much dps can be done rather than how much the job can bring overall to a raid group (not just damage).