Is it time we had another free retainer?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SamSmoot

With the current retainer interface, just two is way too much work.
They need a single menu, with instant switching between them at any level. No dialogs, quit from any level, craft from retainer inventory, drag/drop materials between retainers and bags.

---

Indeed. I forked out for 2 additional retainers, but this is the reason I use them solely as additional inventory space, and rare use them for selling or ventures.

I am just hoping they do a simplification of items needed. They already simplified crafting and gathering. Now they just need to go back and cut down on all the different types of cotton in the game.

People dump money on Star Bucks but nickel and dime for buying one additional retainer in 2020?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Divinemights

People dump money on Star Bucks but nickel and dime for buying one additional retainer in 2020?

---

I don't drink Starbucks despite having worked at one previously.

In general I'd like if they maybe took a small cross-disciplinary team of like 2-3 people to cull down stuff from old expansions where it's needlessly complicated. Reduce the diversity of crafting items in ARR and HW especially, while still asking for overall the same amount. Like, if a crafting mat you can buy for poetics is almost worthless, either condense it to one per content tier (60 and 70 specifically), or just chuck it out. Similarly, while not crafting related, ARR, HW, and SB tomestone gear should just come augmented, and you should just buy weapons wholesale. I'd seriously hope we are not so petty as to be chasing sprouts down to squeeze another 100 Poetics out of them, and there's certainly plenty of sinks they could add for Poetics if that's needed. In general I'd like a small cleanup process with each expansion. As it is now, as someone who started the game in late 2018 I found there was a lot of unnecessary hoops to jump through where the actual expense is small, but the time spent dealing with a confusing and disorienting UX is massive.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Divinemights

People dump money on Star Bucks but nickel and dime for buying one additional retainer in 2020?

---

My city doesn't have Starbucks even, and I already pay for 4 additional retainers. Still would like other people, who can't or doesn't want to spend more money on a sub (since retainers service is linked to it, sort of) for whatever reason, have more space to work with.

2 Retainers were bearable in ARR and HW (and even then I knew people who struggled with space because the overal amount of slots was lower), but now in Shadowbringers, if you keep something outside of battle items (like tokens from raids and trials) - it runs out annoyingly fast. There can be no need for 3rd additional retainer if they expanded them for one more bag, though.

I’m up to like a total of five retainers. At least one of them will go away once I’ve finished leveling my crafting jobs to 80, as right now they’re just being used to hold all the Diadem mats and stuff for the Restoration. The others are also mostly full of “maybe I’ll need this to level crafting” materials and are also on the chopping block once I stop needing to hoard all that. I assume I’ll end up at three, since I like the extra Chocobo Saddlebag you get from the app, which also comes with a Retainer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Divinemights

People dump money on Star Bucks but nickel and dime for buying one additional retainer in 2020?

---

Free is better.

I never expect free anything, but I do understand the draw.

This has been my Crusade. and my main issue with the game for years now.


It throws gear at you (only 400 slots in the glamour dresser for thousands of weapons/armor in game)

Crafting of any sort is ridiculously resource intensive (ESPECIALLY Culinarian)

It throws currencies at you all the time despite them not going into your currency tab.

It's like they have so much item bloat to absolutely incentivize retainer subscriptions. Hell I have a retainer filled with nothing but Materia and various Currenies.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kalise

I like how all implications are people hoarding onto crappy materials that can be farmed up whenever. That's not the case for me. I don't actually have any materials stored except a handful of commonly used materials from time gated nodes, taking up like 5 whole spaces.

---

Fill in the blank with whatever material/gear/item you want and hoarding still applies.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kalise

400 spaces in the glamour dresser is not enough for the plethora of items that currently exist in the game with unique appearances (Including recolours of items that affect non-dyable parts)

---

Now we are getting to the root of your problems, its ok let it out ( a TON of items use the same graphic and even dye the same, VERY FEW dye different in comparison)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kalise

The fact is, back in ARR SE deemed 2 free retainers sufficient for people's use. Whilst also noting that some people may use more than average and so have paid for retainers.

Since then, there have been 3 expansions, all increasing the number of items in the game. There has not been any update to the number of retainers.

---

The fact is they have done a TON of other things to help with inventory mgmt. Increased bag size, armory size, stack to 999, choco saddle, another bag slot, glamour dresser, expanded currency tab which I'm willing to bet more people wanted than a free retainer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kalise

If it was generous, there wouldn't be any paid for additional retainers, because it wouldn't be necessary.

The irony still stands that you were talking about how easy it is to maintain storage space yet and how generous the storage is, yet also at the same time mention that not just additional retainers but an additional account entirely is required for managing "proper" inventory limitations.

---

I never said I used an additional account to manage storage, I said I had multiple accounts with maxed crafters and gatherers.

I also said that I understand what its like to have to manage inventory because I've been playing so long.1.0

I also said that it is way easier than it used to be (assuming your generous comment is pertaining to this)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kalise

I know it might be hard to grasp the concept, but these forums are for players to give feedback and have discussions.


It's up to SE to decide whether it's merely "Whining" or if it has merit. Not some random whale with a holier than thou attitude.

---

I know it might be a hard concept to grasp, but I actually said I agree we need more storage (if you read my posts in this thread at all) but I think it would be better served elsewhere than a free retainer.

Like a glamour log/book that auto unlocks the glam when you loot said item. The dresser can stay with plates or this can replace it entirely, all we would need is the prism's bing bang boom. This fixes the gear hoarding

(I have 1 retainer on each account with glam gear also, I get it)

They can also add all the Savage/EX/Trial Currencies/totems to a tab instead also. (all of it coins etc etc)

They can remove glam restrictions so that we dont have to keep 3 items with the same glam for dif jobs

My point was the inventory management is not as "Terribly Limited" as you are making it out to be, nowhere near it lol....

Anywho, I just think there are other BETTER options than giving me another retainer to micromanage and FREE

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big_Bap

How shortsighted. Using the latest account I've logged on the lodestone has nothing to do with my experience regarding inventory/retainer management. Players, such as myself, who truly deal with inventory and retainer limitations use multiple service accounts to circumvent the problem. Beggars can't be choosers. For the record, the THOUSANDS of items you speak of don't stack at 99 as they use to. Thanks for proving my point.

---

What point? You don't have one, you literally are just in here bragging about what you have in an off alt account. Nobody cares what you craft.

But MY point (which if you read you would see) is that SE can do much better than the current state.
Like a Glamour Log that unlocks the glam when the item is looted. Then you can sell/whatever.
Or adding all the damn books and totems and currencies to tabs
etc
etc

Yea, it USED to be worse. but...... It CAN be MUCH BETTER!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SinisterJoints

What point? You don't have one, you literally are just in here bragging about what you have in an off alt account. Nobody cares what you craft.

But MY point (which if you read you would see) is that SE can do much better than the current state.
Like a Glamour Log that unlocks the glam when the item is looted. Then you can sell/whatever.
Or adding all the damn books and totems and currencies to tabs
etc
etc

Yea, it USED to be worse. but...... It CAN be MUCH BETTER!

---

Not that you were referencing GW2 specifically, but I'd be thrilled if they would blatantly steal the following from that game:

*Glamour log - glam image/skin is saved instantly - no need to save the physical item if you just want it for glamour.
*Proper currency tab
*Material bank - I believe just about every last crafting item has a home in the separate material storage. Doesn't clog up your actual inventory at all
*Large bank storage (separate from inventory and shared across account)


Those alone would help tremendously with the storage woes.

Some things XIV could do help on its own:

*Cut down the insane item bloat. The amount of crafting/gathering that can be found in game is staggering.
*Add a tackle box. Or if they don't want to go that route (which they should), simplify bait further
*Improve the glamour wardrobe to be more functional. Add more plates, allow plates to be created/made/applied anywhere. It's a bit of a pain to use now, and quite limiting.
*Allow cash-shop outfits to be stored either in armoire or purchasable from Calamity Salvager. Seriously - people are paying a dear premium for these items, and then on top of that lose out on inventory/retainer space as it can't be kept anywhere else. I guess we should just buy that extra retainer, right? (heavy /s)
*Fairly minor, but make all gear items dyeable. Stop making dyeable/undyeable versions of the same thing. Also, do we really need ~100 separate flower hairpieces just because of color variations?
*Utilize the existing currency tab - Why do only a small portion of items go on there? If an item's only use is to be used as currency to obtain an item, it should go here.

I'm sure there are plenty more ideas out there, but that's my starting list for now. I should add, since I highly doubt they will change any of the above, I feel we need at least 1 or 2 additional free retainers. :p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skivvy

Not that you were referencing GW2 specifically, but I'd be thrilled if they would blatantly steal the following from that game:

*Glamour log - glam image/skin is saved instantly - no need to save the physical item if you just want it for glamour.
*Proper currency tab
*Material bank - I believe just about every last crafting item has a home in the separate material storage. Doesn't clog up your actual inventory at all
*Large bank storage (separate from inventory and shared across account)


Those alone would help tremendously with the storage woes.

Some things XIV could do help on its own:

*Cut down the insane item bloat. The amount of crafting/gathering that can be found in game is staggering.
*Add a tackle box. Or if they don't want to go that route (which they should), simplify bait further
*Improve the glamour wardrobe to be more functional. Add more plates, allow plates to be created/made/applied anywhere. It's a bit of a pain to use now, and quite limiting.
*Allow cash-shop outfits to be stored either in armoire or purchasable from Calamity Salvager. Seriously - people are paying a dear premium for these items, and then on top of that lose out on inventory/retainer space as it can't be kept anywhere else. I guess we should just buy that extra retainer, right? (heavy /s)
*Fairly minor, but make all gear items dyeable. Stop making dyeable/undyeable versions of the same thing. Also, do we really need ~100 separate flower hairpieces just because of color variations?
*Utilize the existing currency tab - Why do only a small portion of items go on there? If an items only use is to be used as currency to obtain an item, it should go here.

I'm sure there are plenty more ideas out there, but that's my starting list for now. I should add, since I highly doubt they will change any of the above, I feel we need at least 1 or 2 additional free retainers. :p

---

as a crafter i def agree on item bloat but they have gotten a lot better at reusing old materials.

That's another thing: I think we can probably condense or get rid of old raid series tokens. Just make the items they get available for poetics, or unify the items by raid series and make them available from a single token for that series or tier. You still have a reason to go back and experience them for mounts, minions, titles, etc. Let's not pretend there's any challenge when 99% of people are just unsyncing them anyway. If the developers are dead set on people having to experience it, maybe lock the items behind at least one clear (like how you can get new hair styles at Gold Saucer after clearing Ivalice). Just please stop littering my inventory with useless tokens whenever I get dropped into Alexander.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SinisterJoints

as a crafter i def agree on item bloat but they have gotten a lot better at reusing old materials.

---

But for example they could go and remove all the old branches and just replace em with logs, would shave a few items off... and just stop with that stupid X-sand + X-ore... one version per metal is fine, we dont need more...


Edit:
Yes same for tokken, just condense em per tier.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Esmoire

That's another thing: I think we can probably condense or get rid of old raid series tokens. Just make the items they get available for poetics, or unify the items by raid series and make them available from a single token for that series or tier. You still have a reason to go back and experience them for mounts, minions, titles, etc. Let's not pretend there's any challenge when 99% of people are just unsyncing them anyway. If the developers are dead set on people having to experience it, maybe lock the items behind at least one clear (like how you can get new hair styles at Gold Saucer after clearing Ivalice). Just please stop littering my inventory with useless tokens whenever I get dropped into Alexander.

---

Something I proposed a while ago (Like I said, this item bloat thing really irritates me)

Make every raid drop only two tokens. One for gear, and one for the weapon at 7 weeks (4 weeks later after the nerf).

Actually got an SE response, probably because they were already revamping the raid loot. Better than it was, still too many items though.

Do people not realise you can just throw items away? Or am I the only one who does this? I have everything at 80. I craft often but I don't horde any items I don't need. Just sell them on the market board or vendor them. Rebuy or gather stuff you need only when you need them. Do you really need those Yellow Yarzon legs?

The only good suggestion I've seen in this thread is the upgraded material vendor. Perhaps a vendor where you trade him a HQ item and in return he lets you purchase items with the same name, so once you have gathered the things once you no longer need to grind. Cap it at level 70 so newer stuff doesn't lose its value.

However with the amount of GP gatherers have now and how easy it is to access even this is unneeded. Stop hoarding stuff.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Asako

Do people not realise you can just throw items away?.

---

Clearly you're the only one that figured that out. All these people on the thread talking about having to the deal with excessive item management, they just haven't figured that feature out yet. /s

I primarily wish that MogStation glamour was able to be stored in the armoire.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rynn21

I primarily wish that MogStation glamour was able to be stored in the armoire.

---

Along with some MSQ glamours (Scion Adventurer and Scion Traveler sets, I look at you).

If you're even a little into crafting, three retainers is practically mandatory, and not just for holding stuff: a BTN, MIN, and hunter are required if you don't wanna drive yourself mad. It might lose a little money for SE shortterm but would create a better playing experience.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Asako

Do people not realise you can just throw items away? Or am I the only one who does this? I have everything at 80. I craft often but I don't horde any items I don't need. Just sell them on the market board or vendor them. Rebuy or gather stuff you need only when you need them. Do you really need those Yellow Yarzon legs?

The only good suggestion I've seen in this thread is the upgraded material vendor. Perhaps a vendor where you trade him a HQ item and in return he lets you purchase items with the same name, so once you have gathered the things once you no longer need to grind. Cap it at level 70 so newer stuff doesn't lose its value.

However with the amount of GP gatherers have now and how easy it is to access even this is unneeded. Stop hoarding stuff.

---

The majority of my inventory space is taken up by glamour and by furniture, mostly stuff that's expensive or some kind of dungeon loot/stuff that would be annoying to get again. Some of it is cash shop stuff. I regularly go through and get rid of stuff I haven't used in a while and reassess what I might not use often, but it STILL fills back up again quickly - even with me tossing stuff I like and want to keep, but just don't have enough room for and don't like as much as something new. There's just not enough space for stuff like that, as someone who collects and changes glamour often. My glamour dresser is full and just about everything that can go in the armoire is in it already.

I have two retainers mostly full of glamour, and my third has nearly two sections of furniture I can't place or store because my house and apartment are both furnished and you can't relocate a house if more than 400 items total are in it. And as far as I can tell you can't store outdoor furnishings in an apartment (unless something else was wonky when I tried...).

Leveling crafters and gatherers really just made a problem I already had even worse.

Frankly my personal problem would be pretty much solved if they greatly improved the glamour system to have way more storage slots, or to take something wow actually managed to do right (imo) and find a way to save appearances that DOESN'T treat the gear like it's still gear that needs to take up an inventory slot. Save appearances, and let me glamour them without needing to keep the item.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DelSolstice

If you're even a little into crafting, three retainers is practically mandatory, and not just for holding stuff: a BTN, MIN, and hunter are required if you don't wanna drive yourself mad. It might lose a little money for SE shortterm but would create a better playing experience.

---

It depends on what you mean by "little into crafting", but as a casual crafter, the two free retainers are enough for me for now.
Personally, I only hold materials that are either expensive on market board or gated by something to be gathered.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Asako

Do people not realise you can just throw items away? Or am I the only one who does this? I have everything at 80. I craft often but I don't horde any items I don't need. Just sell them on the market board or vendor them. Rebuy or gather stuff you need only when you need them. Do you really need those Yellow Yarzon legs?

---

While I get that hoarding items can be an actual problem, the above argument doesn't really make a lot of sense to me. This just about always gets tossed out as a reason for why SE shouldn't give players a third free retainer after 6 years.

I find that when I'm in my crafting moods, I can be working on a lot of different items at once. I also prefer to gather/craft any needed mats myself to save gil when I can. So when that mood strikes, I can be needing A LOT of various materials. It is a hassle to constantly have to go out and farm up more items, or buy more items when you could have already had them stocked in your storage. So sure, selling off any excess materials as soon as you're done crafting will help your inventory woes, but it makes any future time spent crafting that much more annoying as you'll have to spend more time gathering materials....again.

Honestly considering how much they pushed for people to start crafting i dont know why they haven't already done this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VenKitsune

Honestly considering how much they pushed for people to start crafting i dont know why they haven't already done this.

---

Or if it is a server limitation some of the SE apologists claim. Fix damn item bloat in this game. They missed a great chance to overhaul the items for crafting with the big push to get everyone into crafting. Would it hurt the lore police if they deleted at least half if not more of all mats from 1 to 70. Crank up the xp even more in those levels and people won't even remember that the game has a 50 types of sand (just a guess). This would make the 999 stacks look even better and not cut into the cash flow. Because extra MB space, ventures and glamour storage would not eliminate people from paying for more.

Quote:

---

Would it hurt the lore police if they deleted at least half if not more of all mats from 1 to 70. Crank up the xp even more in those levels and people won't even remember that the game has a 50 types of sand (just a guess).

---

That would require another overhaul of the ARR and HW doh/dol job quests, and changing a LOT of leve requirements, crafting recipes and workshop turnins.


Should they do that? Probably. Will they? Doubtful, its a lot of overhaul.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moonlite

Crank up the xp even more in those levels and people won't even remember that the game has a 50 types of sand (just a guess).

---

https://de.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...ing_lv=&q=Sand

Its 17 + 4 from Ishgard... still a lot. Considerring all of it has ore as well and some splits in Ingots, nuggets and on some cases 2-3 other things...


Also, stuff like ishgard or old mats from Relics, especially eureka doesnt help much either. Yes i can farm it again but still, i wont toss all the crystals and boss drops and stuff, cause i know I wanna make more Relics at some point.

And as so many pointed out, the cash shop and event stuff is a problem, especially Garden stuff, wall designs etc... I can store 400 Items in my houses' storage but not as much on the garden.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Barraind

That would require another overhaul of the ARR and HW doh/dol job quests, and changing a LOT of leve requirements, crafting recipes and workshop turnins.


Should they do that? Probably. Will they? Doubtful, its a lot of overhaul.

---

If i am remembering wrong the DoL leves have their own item to collect when leve starts. They could delete useless recipes or just eliminate the item needed in the recipe or just have it a generic replacement item like some custom deliveries have now. No overhaul to actual jobs needed. A better follow through would be desirable. But Ishagrd gathering and crafting really gives them a way out to just do it and say we will clean it up later.

Yeah. Unfortunately I can't feel sympathetic for their limitations when they make a lot of really bad decisions for how they operate in their constraints. It's amazing how, for example, a metal can become an ingot, nugget, rivet, plate, etc, when really only only 2 forms are necessary. Also a lot of random ass bugs and stuff you can gather for one recipe that no one cares about. Of course, as a player, we just throw out the stuff that's pointless, but it's still problematic. It's heaped upon all the other stuff FFXIV has new players have to process, and it's getting in the way of them doing some kind of more elegant system. Like, if we could keep crafting mats under 40 for ARR, under 30 for HW and SB, some kind of dedicated crafting inventory would be much more feasible. Instead they just keep applying bandaids that cost them more in the end.

Quote:

---

If i am remembering wrong the DoL leves have their own item to collect when leve starts

---

DoL leves, yes. the quest turnins at those levels are actual mats.

DoH leves at those levels are a whole bunch of stuff you'll never make otherwise, and have some overlap with GC turnins.

Never gonna happen. Remember, this game is full of limitations that somehow goes away when money is involved, and they make a good amount of money on extra retainers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moonlite

Would it hurt the lore police if they deleted at least half if not more of all mats from 1 to 70.

---

Welp, it actually would. Not to the point "impossible to play" of course, but along with all the types of metals, branches and meat there are just as much different types of armor, potions and food that are crafted from these materials. Bronze Cuirass and Mythrill Cuirass created from same "versatile ingot" (how even) or Branch Staff created from Log (why doing the whole log if you could cut just one good branch) would look weird, logically and chemistry wise, considering that up to now we have quite realistic craft system (there's even a whole youtube channel where girl recreates FF14's food based on in-game recipes).

That said, if they will ever decide to remove some "potentionally connectable" materials, they probably will need to do some rework on items that are crafted from them too, to save the whole logic that exists in system now. Not impossible, but not very likely to happen I think. The theoretical analogue of glamour dresser but for materials seems to be more feasible.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Halivel

Welp, it actually would. Not to the point "impossible to play" of course, but along with all the types of metals, branches and meat there are just as much different types of armor, potions and food that are crafted from these materials. Bronze Cuirass and Mythrill Cuirass created from same "versatile ingot" (how even) or Branch Staff created from Log (why doing the whole log if you could cut just one good branch) would look weird, logically and chemistry wise, considering that up to now we have quite realistic craft system (there's even a whole youtube channel where girl recreates FF14's food based on in-game recipes).

That said, if they will ever decide to remove some "potentionally connectable" materials, they probably will need to do some rework on items that are crafted from them too, to save the whole logic that exists in system now. Not impossible, but not very likely to happen I think. The theoretical analogue of glamour dresser but for materials seems to be more feasible.

---

what about the few quests that already just give crafting material? It is already a generic place holder and no one complains about that. Also a lot of that gear, potions, and other things could also be removed. In a perfect world they would put more time into the Novice program and give gear like aetheryte earring and make those recipes just glamour like pvp sets. No more undergeared people from 1-70. We would also know that they at least took the training program as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by splinter1545

Never gonna happen. Remember, this game is full of limitations that somehow goes away when money is involved, and they make a good amount of money on extra retainers.

---

We got a Saddlebag, even if only half of it is free and FC's got several extra Chest tabs. They will weigh up whether a feature would add positively to players gaming experience and considering the huge push for casual players to get into crafting and the Ishgard restoration, along with all the new and associated materials, it's quite possible they decide it's time for more inventory space.

But we need to leave feedback, instead of attacking hoarders for being lazy or Enix for being greedy or whatever. It's as simple as saying "I'd absolutely love another retainer" or "I'm fine with two, focus on other things", respecting others opinions and letting Enix decide from there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Liam_Harper

We got a Saddlebag, even if only half of it is free and FC's got several extra Chest tabs. They will weigh up whether a feature would add positively to players gaming experience and considering the huge push for casual players to get into crafting and the Ishgard restoration, along with all the new and associated materials, it's quite possible they decide it's time for more inventory space.

But we need to leave feedback, instead of attacking hoarders for being lazy or Enix for being greedy or whatever. It's as simple as saying "I'd absolutely love another retainer" or "I'm fine with two, focus on other things", respecting others opinions and letting Enix decide from there.

---

You mean 1 extra tab?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SinisterJoints

You mean 1 extra tab?

---

It’s 2 tabs; one at rank 10, one at 15 (total of 5 tabs, from what was formerly 3 max)

So everyone should be in Fc's of 1? Or are we going to count that as like, 1 inventory space per person?

Cause those spaces basically let FC's put things into the Fc bank that otherwise had to be held on someones retainer, given that we have even more things generated from and only usable by FC's too.

The best part is that you still cant store the finished grade 3 buffs in the FC chest, so they still take retainer space.

Problem == opportunity. Introduce end-game crafter workshop items (like the old ones but actually useful at end-game). For example Goldsmith workbench that includes space to store mats used in Goldsmith recipes (only). Make the items market place prohibited - if you want it you have to make it for yourself (as any master crafter should). Do this for each of the crafting classes. Real world crafter's love their workshops - why should virtual ones be any different. In the future this could be expanded to not just mats storage, it could include things a trophy case where you can keep some of your finest instead of having to desynth it to free space in your inventory.

To all the people that claim money makes problems go away this comment i made before in another thread.

Lets say there are 100 000 characters on a server. 10% pay for 2 extra retainers which makes 20 000 extra retainers to store on that server.
Compare that to everyone getting an extra free retainer which comes to 100 000 extra retainers to store or 5 times as much information.

Thats why they can give us paid spaces and not free as I see it.