Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-111.68.32.71-20131007122233/@comment-209421-20140412124105

Personally, I see such a design as being more compatible with two curved knives than a staff. Metal bows are notoriously difficult, but through a composite structure, or better yet, an energy edge when active in dagger form, makes it possible. The daggers would probably be kukri-style, so by no means short, with one sporting a spool of wire-thread for stringing the bow when fully formed. Such thread would be stored within the hilt but projected through the back of the blade when strung.

Your suggestion, however, is possible on a technical level. Modern technologies can be used to create "mimetic" polymers, which change between multiple states when electricity is applied. In your case, you would have two states, each requiring a different voltage. State one would most likely be ranged, and would form the smooth curves of the weapon, and allow access to the bowstring. With a flick of a switch, however, the flexible bow would straighten and harden into a rigid staff as an electrical current is pumped through it, likely from a thicker handgrip in the center of the bow/staff (where the battery pack and control switches would be located). This also means you've got more possibilities for side-tech, since it's a more advanced weapon than the average bow.

As it stands, I'm working with similar tech for a fancharacter, who always carries one of two different swords - near identical in design, one can convert into a scythe (a curved section of blade folds outwards into the edge while a mimetic or carbon-rod shaft folds out, with the other blade segments folding inwards), while the second converts into an assault rifle. (Similar transformation style to Crescent Rose)