Guild Retainer

I really believe that FFXIV would benefit a lot from a linkshell/guild retainer (guild bank). Groups of players being able to pool resources for mutual support is a very important feature for FFXIV because it motivates individual players to work together, and play more.

The current linkshell system gives very little motivation for players to play together, even though FFXIV is an extremely group driven game.

If a player joins a linkshell, the only benefit received is a direct chat with other players in that linkshell. No other motivation to join or actively participate in the group is achieved. This does very little to join individual players together to create strong playing groups that enjoy playing for years.

The addition of a Linkshell Retainer would give a lot of group motivation that is currently lacking.

Do I stand alone in this? Would something else work better? Please give your opinion.

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Originally Posted by Haraldsson

I really believe that FFXIV would benefit a lot from a linkshell/guild retainer (guild bank)........

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Linkshell: a place people gather together for a common goal.
Guild: a place where information, knowledge and NPCs with that knowledge.
Retainer: A NPC that players can use to store item, gil, share/crystal and sell wares/buy from other retainers.
Bank: place where money and gold is stored/collected.
(this is what I've come to know)

..... sorry what? don't really understand this top part but I kinda get the rest of it, yes, something more that bring motivation. "you give as much as you get, and sometimes get nothing in return" this is the way I've come to think as I play online because I heard it from someone else. however i do agree somehow an overall cash(gil) flow everyone can put into to open up something or do something. Linkshell Retainer? is that the Boss of Retainers? As the topic states Guild Retainer is it a place where Retainers gather, we player gather as well? I know I'm not making any sense do help me understand.

A Linkshell retainer is one idea. I personally would prefer a Linkshell/Guild/Company Hall with a treasure chest inside.

The idea of the treasure chest is that linkshell members can add and remove items or gil at will, depending on their needs. Instead of having to ask all of your guild mates "Hey! Does anyone need 1000 Iron Acorns?", you can just put them in the treasure chest for other people to grab as needed.

Another feature of the treasure chest should be customized member permissions. Depending on your rank in the linkshell, you may or may not have access to certain features. For instance, low ranking members may only be able to add items to the treasure chest. As they progress in rank, they are then able to take items from the treasure chest. And at the highest rank they gain access to the gil in the treasure chest. The actual permissions for each rank should be customizable.

Of course.. a linkshell ranking system needs to be added first. And none of these ideas are new or innovative.. they just work well.

Sorry for the confusion. Let me clarify a little bit.

I would like a "retainer for linkshell members"

For example, A retainer that all members of a Linkshell can store items and gil. As well as draw items and gil out.

Thanks, got it now and that sounds awesome, both you and Grits thoughts are great, both would improve things for the better.

I agree...something is needed to let linkshells pool their resources easily.

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Originally Posted by Grit

I personally would prefer a Linkshell/Guild/Company Hall with a treasure chest inside.

The idea of the treasure chest is that linkshell members can add and remove items or gil at will, depending on their needs.

Another feature of the treasure chest should be customized member permissions. Depending on your rank in the linkshell, you may or may not have access to certain features. For instance, low ranking members may only be able to add items to the treasure chest. As they progress in rank, they are then able to take items from the treasure chest. And at the highest rank they gain access to the gil in the treasure chest. The actual permissions for each rank should be customizable.

Of course.. a linkshell ranking system needs to be added first. And none of these ideas are new or innovative.. they just work well.

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I agree with Grit's comments which remind me of the situation in LoTRO back when I played it- the system worked well.

One problem that immediately comes to mind when introducing shared storage is theft. I don't know the situation on other servers, but there is a bit of drama over on Trabia. In previous games I'm sure we've all seen players bragging about stealing a "guild bank" after they painstakingly earn the trust of their secret targets. Not to say the players of FFXIV would stoop to this level, but introducing shared storage with various permissions will certainly make it possible.

(First, let me point out that I may refer to linkshells as guilds or companies.. but they are essentially the same thing)

Theft is a measured risk within any linkshell/guild that stores items or gil for everyone to use. When it comes right down to it, the guild leader will almost always have the ability to steal a guild bank. However, stealing a character is just as easy as obtaining the permissions to steal an entire treasure chest of gil and items. Which is why linkshell "mules" in the FFXI world tended to cause problems.

With the proper Treasure Chest features you can mostly avoid thefts by non-senior members. I didn't go into full detail in my other post, but since you bring it up.. there should be a certain amount of "slots" within the treasure chest with special permissions. For example, the first 10 slots in the treasure chest would be permissioned so that only the linkshell leader or officers can use them. They would be reserved for high-ticket things that are at risk of being stolen.

Obviously SE would need to develop a drag-and-drop sort of interface for that to work.

Secondly, transactions with the treasure chest could be actively tracked with a window that pops up while you're using the treasure chest interface, and would look something like this:

Name - Transaction - Time

Grit - Removed 10 Iron Acorn - 3/24/2011 (6:11)
Grit - Added 20 Iron Ore - 3/24/2011 (6:12)

By tracking the transactions you can measure people's contributions to the guild, and quickly determine who might be hoarding valuable items or "stealing", as it were.

All of these treasure chest features could be something that is earned by your company through special quests and achievements, along with all of the different furnishings available in their guild hall. Transaction tracking wouldn't be that necessary for young guilds, but end-game guilds would probably love it.

Theft is a big issue for shared storage (I believe EVE online even promotes it).

However, I think the benefits are greater than the risks. PLus with just a little bit of security management, the theft can be reduced. If theft does occur, then the security measures reduce the impact to the guild.

Again non of this is ground breaking. All of these things have been done before, and are now pretty much MMO basics. SE just needs to give us these features.

If SE implements linkshell common storage in some fashion, regardless if it is a retainer, a vault, or a chest, I would like to see this as a 'purchasable' option for a linkshell. Given what very little know is known about Grand Companies, I could see purchasing this as an option once enough GC quests are completed and enough Grand Company marks (or whatever they may be called).

This leaves the option of having "simple" linkshells for socials, whereas a group that wants a more full-featured guild the ability to work toward it.