Since when is Bard an Archer?

[Andrien]

The quiver can be a flute.

http://zantetsuken.net/wp-content/up...p-bard-bow.jpg

[Coglin]

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...-not-be-a-Bard

This may come to a surprise to the OP and a few others, but this and other similar discussion have already transpired is the archer forums. I know, I know, what kind of fools actually puts threads in there appropriate sections right? I mean I can't say I blame the OP for not knowing that. I mean what kind of person would actually even bother to check the ARC section to post and discuss ARC's. Thats just cray right?

[Vackashken]

Since SE needed another support class and ARC was the only one that even remotely made sense compared to what was left.

This is probably the most realistic answer lol...

[Eruantien]

bows are not uncommon as said for bards to wield, 2 straight from the top of my head that I can think of is Edward from FFIV and Leliana from Dragon Age both used bows

[yukikaze_yanagi]

As many already stated, bards aren't just singers, but fighters as well. In the western folklore, bards have ofted bows or daggers, so forget the ffxi's bard this time, at least until they're using the mandolin fighting style (i know, i put this video in every topic like this, but it work)
The bard !

[MysteriousRonin]

Bards in other games and books (A Song of Ice and Fire for example) use daggers, axes and other weapons, so it makes sense for one to use a bow.

As for the "This isn't Final Fantasy XI!" argument, I know of a certain Spoony Bard who used only instruments as weapons and I believe other Bards in other FF games only used music as weapons instead of actual weapons, and last I checked this is a Final Fantasy title. Final Fantasy Bards.

[Arcell]

This thread AGAIN? I could have sworn there was a thread before with this exact same title.

Anyway, Archer to Bard actually makes sense to me. Bard is mostly a support role, they give out the song buffs and all. It would make sense to give that role to a class with a ranged attack, since they'll be moving around the battlefield and often out of melee range of the enemies. Making a ranged support job is really the best way to do it since their range allows them to move freely where they are needed.

[Signy]

Archers becoming bards has been the natural order of things for over a decade!

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You're awesome if you know the reference

I was just thinking of posting that...

[Velhart]

Thancred is a bard and uses throwing knives.

[charlemagne]

I wanna see bards hitting the mobs with a banjo.