[Suggestion] Beast Tribe Retainers

Of course we will never be able to select a Beast Tribe race as our player character, but what is the next best thing? Having Beast Tribe Retainers.
Having a Gobbie/Moogle/Vanu run out and do my ventures for me would be awesome.
There already are NPC's with weapons/tools equipped, so we know it's possible to design them as such. Therefore, the only gear that really should show should be the weapon/tool. I just feel like the retainer system could use a slight update to make it more diverse in customization.
It could even be required to do the Beast Tribe quests and get to a certain rank with them before hiring them as a Retainer

Not sure how practical this is, nor does it really fit the lore of retainers and who they are. Personally I would 100000% prefer for SE to work on allowing our retainers to be companions in the same way as our Chocobo can be a companion, or as a fully fledged NPC party member. I would much, much rather have that in the game than have beast tribe retainers.

Really good idea. You can always glamour your current retainers as Vath or Vanu for the moment. =3

Unless there's some specific example I'm forgetting, I'd be very surprised if the models were actually using the equipment as equipment, as opposed to incorporating the design of the equipment as an intrinsic component. When I think about the things like the moogles in CM that are using gear or Thornmarch, they're almost undoubtedly an instance of that, not equipment in the sense PC models use.

I like the idea.

However, the outcome is probably more intensive than SE would be willing to invest into, not a matter of can't be done.

EDIT: To put it into perspective, the amount of work this project would take, they'd be doing the bulk of the work of creating a new [playable] race: making all armor fit a completely new model. If they omitted customizing armor to be seen on the retainer, then it's just a matter of pasting the code for a Beast Tribe member to stand there and answer your beck and call.

Would like to see OP's and Kosmos's idea together lol, also seems fitting to smash them into the Squadron system as well. Being able to take them out, more companion development/quests. Maybe these side kicks help fill slots in dungeons when people leave, until another WoL arrives - like the AI taking over a leaver in a MOBA.. "usually" better than nothing ;D (balance not to be better than a player, unless that player is pretty much afk.. in which case you'd kick them anyways xD).

Would also be quite nice if it was for FC stuff too, like hire an aspiring mog crafter after completing the mog beastmen quests - an improved vendor at your house, maybe even offers few low level leve quests for leveling crafters. Vath helping with a guild hall/adventurer sort of feature - like being able to have more diplomatic active relationships (mog menders, goblin forges, Amalja proving grounds, Materia Sea(d) beds, relationship control as you sort of help them have themselves in the beastmen quests.

tl;dr deeper interaction with the beastmen for both personal and group sounds awesome :)

Also would love to have a moogle take care of my stuff, cause.. FFXI. I'm still hoping for a moogle flute/whistle like FFIX mixed with FFXI features, and being imbeded into a number of QoL features like depositing an item to a retainer, selling junk, having a tiny selection of wares you can reasonably improve, tell your squadron to stop being lazy, watch your garden while you're gone (maybe halts the death of plants but greatly slows or stops the growth unless you buy him fertilizer which he uses two of each plant instead of one because he's cute).

So hopefully getting a retainer moogle wouldn't kill my dream of having my furry butler back.

Maybe we could have retainers go on ventures that do not need gear assignment. It would be linked to how much reputation you have with the beast tribes. The higher tier you are, the better rewards. In exchange you'd have to pay up with special ventures or pay much more ventures than the usual fee.

In this manner, SE's workload would be much less than trying to fit beast into regular ventures.