Retainer Reference System to replace the Market Wards.

[Roaran]

Retainer Reference System

How's it work?
The Retainer Reference System, is a suggestion I briefly outlined in another thread.
It involves:

• Altering the Functionality of the Market Wards zone.
• Removing the need to move to and from Wards searching for or placing retainers.
• Implementing a system that references all available Retainers (With some restrictions).

First, the Market Wards would shift from several zones to a single zone. Within this zone there would be a single NPC capable of handling all transactions or several NPCs that would handle transactions for specific item types.

Secondly, these NPCs would then be able to reference all retainers in the game that have items in their bazaar. (Either all markets could be linked through this mechanism or restrictions may be placed allowing a single NPC to only reference retainers originating from a certain city)

Buying & Selling with the Retainer Reference System

By simply placing an item within your Retainer's bazaar, this item would then be available for reference and no other steps would be necessary for your item to become available.

In order to purchase an item, a player need only move to the single Market Ward and speak with either a single NPC referencing all items or an NPC related with the corresponding item type. A nearly identical search feature would then be employed to search for your item, and rather than seeking out the specific retainer... the retainer is then summoned next to you.

Why is this an effective and effecient solution?

• Frequent Market Crashes due to unstable zones filled with retainers would no longer be a reoccuring problem for both players and the developers. (Devs seem to have stabilized the Wards, but they have imposed a limit to the # of retainers available...) This system would eliminate the need for imposing and raising retainer caps, as all retainers with items in their bazaar would be available.
• Limits the steps needed to both buy & sell items.
• Retainers do the work for you.
• No additional Art Assets required--existing market ward zone can be used. Example: In a single market ward several NPCs could be placed at each stand. Each NPC would then represent the various wards we currently have. Rather than zoning to each specific ward, a player could access all items available by type through these NPCs and summon the corresponding retainers to their position.

Update: I made a Diary post that further explains the idea and gives a hypothetical scenario illustrated by several pictures. Diary post can be found HERE.

[Veasna]

I like this idea, and it would still allow for those spontanious purchases as we still get to see what other things this retainer is selling. With this idea, no more over crowded wards, yay.

[Roaran]

Thanks for posting here Veasna, I don't think this thread will get much attention in the Market Wards & Retainers section of the forums. I strongly believe this is the best system FFXIV will be able to offer; and, I believe this system to be vastly superior to other MMOs as well.

The beauty is how the already implemented Retainer system could be fleshed out into a truly remarkable mechanic.

[Kennedy]

I think this would be an awesome idea, it's kind of like a pawn shop where you can sell at your own price. Or they could liven up the city by making multiple NPC's sell player listed items in the stores

[setebos]

This is a great idea i posted something similar in another thread also. This is probably more clearly laid out than what i had listed. It also solves the scaling issues when more poeple eventuallly join the game adding even more retainers to the wards.

[Viridiana]

I like the idea overall, though I do have a few comments.

1. If this were implemented, they might as well link all the cities. If there were actual physical wards with retainers, then, yes, not linking the cities makes sense (in a sense). If we're just going to be summoning the retainers, though, might as well let them be summoned to any of the cities, the same way we can summon our own retainers.

2. I am slightly concerned, though, about what would happen with more than one person trying to summon the same retainer. I'm sure they have something to keep different people from buying the same item simultaneously, but I don't believe they've had to consider different people trying to summon the same retainer. This is pretty much the only hitch I can think of off the top of my head.

3. As something of an aside, they would certainly need to change some other features slightly, especially if they did link the wards. Things like being able to see more than just the cheapest 20 of an item, changing tax rates, etc. Not an issue, per se, just something I felt like pointing out.

Anyway, like I said, seems like a good idea, overall. At this point, I'm just hoping they do something to fix it.

[Roaran]

If this were implemented, they might as well link all the cities. If there were actual physical wards with retainers, then, yes, not linking the cities makes sense (in a sense). If we're just going to be summoning the retainers, though, might as well let them be summoned to any of the cities, the same way we can summon our own retainers.

I agree, for reasons I mentioned in the other thread linked in the OP, at this moment I am in favor of linking the market wards. Although the developers may have other plans that justify not linking them, so I just wanted to point out this system would be flexible in both and additionally would be a much more sensible way of linking the market wards if they chose to do so.

I am slightly concerned, though, about what would happen with more than one person trying to summon the same retainer. I'm sure they have something to keep different people from buying the same item simultaneously, but I don't believe they've had to consider different people trying to summon the same retainer. This is pretty much the only hitch I can think of off the top of my head.

I did consider this problem, I think there are a few way to work around it though. Either simply allow multiple players to summon a single retainer and have the items update in real time so a player would figure out quick if someone else is buying from the same retainer. Or if that is impossible, items could be purchased directly from the NPC @ the Item search counter.

As something of an aside, they would certainly need to change some other features slightly, especially if they did link the wards. Things like being able to see more than just the cheapest 20 of an item, changing tax rates, etc. Not an issue, per se, just something I felt like pointing out.

I agree with this point as well, hopefully they have teams working on making the current system as friendly as possible while they work simultaeneously on an overhaul.

[Fannar]

These are all very good ideas!
These are the things I would change as well.

• Remove the Bazaar Modeling feature. People only want to play dress up and it fills the Item Search with ridiculous amounts of items "Not for Sale". (Trying to be polite. ) Change it to a Gear menu that loads stored items on the Retainer. This will keep the option open for those who enjoy it and eliminate the "Not for Sale" items. I don't think this could be any more of a burden to the servers than all the location information currently being saved.
• Mender's Ward counter. Add an NPC with search menu, sorted by class and repair item, where you can view repair requests. Possibly even offering Common Guild support at the same counter. This will lead to loitering crafters though.
• Real time viewing of retainers at multiple locations would be the best solution. But just adding a que window, "This retainer is busy at this time and will arrive shortly", with a first come basis would be fine. Players would need priority on their retainers and move to "next in line" to avoid dropping sales.
• Listing by Character Name. I want to support my friends in game but shouldn't have to know all their retainer's names. By listing Items on sale by player you can choose to support your friends easily. I will gladly pay a higher price for an item if I know the player selling it! Also if/when they implement Signatures on items players can create reputations for themselves.

Keep the ideas coming!

[Roaran]

@Fannar

While those are all good suggestions, I think they mostly fall into the last category of changes that Viridiana mentioned; and, I'm more interested in talking about the foundation of the market system.

I think the most pressing problems the market system are the overcrowding and crashing of the wards. Even as the game population is considerably low, the market wards are already being taxed to their limit. As the population grows, this problem will only worsen. While linking the market wards would be a temporary fix, at the very best, the markets would be evenly divided among the 3 city-states (maybe 4 whenever Ishguard is finally released). Should the game gain in popularity, these markets would then be taxed again bringing us back to square one.

So, essentially, the only way to fix the crashing & overcrowding involves dealing with the retainers themselves. The only visible steps SE has taken so far involve merely hotfixing the current system. Although one of the letters did point to some fundamental changes, I'd wait to see what they are first. If SE does not work on serious changes, one popular patch (1.8 for example) and all those players who have been waiting for content will jump on and be using the wards which are already at their limit.

Edit:

From Bayhone:

In Patch 1.18, we will be increasing the max number of retainers that can be set up within each area. However, by simply increasing the number of allowable retainers, the fact remains that it could again reach the capacity limit. Therefore, as a precursor to that we will be planning some type of system of checks and balances in order to reset the retainers that have been setup.

I think SE clearly sees the problem. No mention of direct work on the retainer system outside of hotfixes though.

[Fannar]

Agreed, there is no point picking out paint if there is no motor in the car.