History Main / InvisibleBowstring

Can be considered [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in the case of a magical weapon (whether or not it's an EnergyBow). Presumably there is a magical "string" or force field or something that is providing the potential energy. Theoretically, could also be applied in the case of SufficentlyAdvanced technology: since while one needs ''something'' to transfer the energy into the arrow, it needn't be a physical object.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'', in that the bowstring ''is'' visible... it's just a very ''wide'' one with no thickness. Heroic archers even have their hero glow effect along the bowstring.

In video games with 3D graphics, the creators can sometimes decide to cut corners that way when creating models of bows, often due to technical limitations, time and money issues, simple oversights, unforeseen bugs, etc. Depending on how obvious this practice is, it can result in the players' loss of their WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief when they look at the characters pulling the arrows on air, with no reasonable explanation.

* Actually justified for Shaft from ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}''. His bow is based upon alien anti-gravity technology, therefore nullifying the need for a string. Presumably the point of this is making it easier to store and maintain.

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[[quoteright:250:[[VideoGame/DragonAgeII https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/invisiblebowstring01_8866.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:250:Nope, it's not visible even against the sun.]]

Probably everyone knows how bows and arrows work - you hold the wooden part of the bow, you attach the arrow's non-pointy end to the bow's string, you pull the arrow while stretching the bow and its string, you aim, and then you release the arrow, letting the physics catapult it in the desired direction.

It's a no-brainer that a string is strictly necessary in a bow. It's not very thick, but it's there, and you can clearly see it. This trope, however, applies to a situation where the string in a bow is clearly missing, and yet the bow is still being used as if it actually was there.

In video games with 3D graphics, the creators can sometimes decide to cut corners that way when creating models of bows, often due to technical limitations, time and money issues, simple oversights, unforeseen bugs, etc. Depending on how obvious this practice is, it can result in the players' loss of their WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief when they look at the characters pulling the arrows on air, with no reasonable explanation.

Can be a subtrope of LazyArtist, unless [[JustifiedTrope justified]]. Can overlap with [[EnergyBow Energy Bows]], which lack strings sometimes.

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!!Examples

[[AC:Comics]]
* Actually justified for Shaft from ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}''. His bow is based upon alien anti-gravity technology, therefore nullifying the need for a string. Presumably the point of this is making it easier to store and maintain.

[[AC:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/ClockTower3'', Alyssa uses a bow without a string. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that she is shooting energy arrows from an [[EnergyBow energy bow]].
* Bows in ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' games don't have strings. This allows for [[RuleOfCool cooler, more impractical]] designs, though. Especially with [[EquippableAlly Magichange system]].
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series:
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'': Your character looks like they're pulling the string back and firing, but there is nothing to grab.
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' also has this problem, but it's much more obvious since your character does some pretty dramatic poses while firing.
* ''Gods: Lands of Infinity'' has this.
* ''Videogame/KidIcarus'' features a curious example: Pit's bows do have strings, but only when he is shooting an arrow. They disappear when not in use -- they seem to be made of light or something like that. Of course, his bows can also be taken apart and used as swords, so the string would have to be done away with in that event anyway.
* The first ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights''. Curiously enough, when a bow is enchanted, the magical glow outlines where the string should be.
* Shana and Miranda's bow in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfDragoon'' follows this trope, understandable for a [=PS1=] game.
* ''VideoGame/GuildWars'' plays this trope straight, while its [[VideoGame/GuildWars2 sequel]] [[InvertedTrope inverts]] it with visible bowstrings and invisible arrows (while aiming).
* None of Rena's bows in ''VideoGame/{{Elsword}}'' have bowstrings, not even the crossbow used in her Wind Sneaker class. Possibly justified in that she's firing magic arrows made of nature energy.
* The bows in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes'' don't have strings due to the fact that they'd be impractical to animate on the puppet-like sprites, but most of the accompanying artwork for the archer heroes have proper bowstrings.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'', in that the bowstring ''is'' visible... it's just a very ''wide'' one with no thickness. Heroic archers even have their hero glow effect along the bowstring.

[[AC:Toys]]
* Subverted for Aiyana the Autumn Elven Archer and Amazonian Archer from Boss Fight Studio ''Virtuvian H.A.C.K.S.'' series. Their bows don't come with a string, but the bows have hooks on each side, meaning that you can attach a string onto their bows.
* Many Myth/RobinHood, ComicBook/GreenArrow or ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} figures suffer from either this or stiff plastic strings.
* Bow-wielding models from tabletop wargames, such as ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'', typically don't have strings on their bows since the scale of the models would make sculpting them pretty much impossible.
* Also present in military miniatures, where the limitations of casting in metal, resin or plastic preclude providing strings on archer figures' bows. [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/archers_7588.jpg Some makers have tried, but the result, on a 25mm figure, is generally vastly over-scale]].
* Both [[VideoGame/Dota2 Windranger]] and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Link ver. DX Edition]] from the ''Toys/{{Figma}}'' line don't have strings on the bows.

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* Hank the Ranger's bow in ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'' has no string -- unless Hank readies an arrow, in which case a magical one appears. His arrows are the same, in that they only show up when he mimes nocking one.

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** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' averts this, however.

* Both [[VideoGame/Dota2 Windranger]] and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Link ver. DX Edition]] from the ''Toys/Figma'' line don't have strings on the bows.

* Bow-wielding models from tabletop wargames, such as {{Warhammer}}, typically don't have strings on their bows since the scale of the models would make sculpting them pretty much impossible.

* Bow-wielding models from tabletop wargames, such has {{Warhammer}} typically don't have strings on their bows since the scale of the models would make sculpting them pretty much impossible.

* Hank the Ranger's bow in ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'' has no string -- unless Hank readies an arrow, in which case a magical one appears. His arrows are the same, in that they only show up when he mimes notching one.

* In ''[[VideoGame/ClockTower Clock Tower 3]]'', Alyssa uses a bow without a string. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that she is shooting energy arrows from an [[EnergyBow energy bow]].

* Shana and Miranda's bow in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfDragoon'' follows this trope, understandable for a PS1 game.

* The first ''NeverwinterNights''. Curiously enough, when a bow is enchanted, the magical glow outlines where the string should be.

* ''VideoGame/GuildWars'' plays this trope straight, while its [[GuildWars2 sequel]] [[InvertedTrope inverts]] it with visible bowstrings and invisible arrows (while aiming).

* GuildWars plays this trope straight, while its [[GuildWars2 sequel]] [[InvertedTrope inverts]] it with visible bowstrings and invisible arrows (while aiming).

In video games with 3D graphics, the creators can sometimes decide to cut corners that way when creating models of bows, either because of technical limitations or their laziness. Depending on how obvious this practice is, it can result in the players' loss of their WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief when they look at the characters pulling the arrows on air, with no reasonable explanation.

* Actually justified for Shaft from ''{{ComicBook/Youngblood}}''. His bow is based upon alien anti-gravity technology, therefore nullifying the need for a string. Presumably the point of this is making it easier to store and maintain.

* Many Literature/RobinHood, ComicBook/GreenArrow or ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} figures suffer from either this or stiff plastic strings.

* GuildWars plays this trope straight, while it's [[GuildWars2 sequel]] [[InvertedTrope inverts]] it with visible bowstrings and invisible arrows (while aiming).

* ''Videogame/KidIcarus'' features a curious example: Pit's bows do have strings, but only when he is shooting an arrow. They disappear when not in use -- they seem to be made of light or something like that. Of course, his bows can also be taken apart and used as swords, so the string would have to be done away with in that even anyway.

* Actually justified for Shaft from ''{{ComicBook/Youngblood}}''. His bow is based upon alien anti-gravity technology, therefore nullifying the need for a string.

* ''Videogame/KidIcarus'' features a curious example: Pit's bows do have strings, but only when he is shooting an arrow. They strangely disappear when not in use.

* ''Francihse/DragonAge'' series:

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''. Your character looks like they're pulling the string back and firing, but there is nothing to grab.

[[quoteright:250:[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/invisiblebowstring01_8866.png]]]]