Retainer upgrades, Ward functionality, and the emerging World Market

The following proposals are meant to address storage concerns, buying/ selling issues, market stands and search tool useability, and the disconnect/ neglect of Limsa Lomina/ Gridania market wards. I would like to thank Rentahamster and Origamikitsune specifically for their ideas that inspired me regarding these matters.

Easy to Understand- click me! (diagram summarizing main points)

Retainers
Several upgrades are now purchasable for each retainer in your service. The level of retainers increases with each additional option package as shown:

LVL - Cost (gil) ; Benefit
1 - Free ; standard
2 - (250,000) ; additional storage (25 slots)
3 - (100,000) ; ability to set a comment for shoppers, (5) additional bazaar slots, (8) slots for customizing appearance with equipable gear seperate from bazaar slots if desired, Transaction history displayed for personal retainers and running sale price given when searching for items in each city or on the World Market
4 - (150,000) ; World Market License
5 - (500,000) ; retainer storage shared among characters on same account and same server

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by origamikitsune

I'd say add retainer level = quest, which gives you access to the ability to purchase. Quests = content, which this game needs. I'd even be happy if they were as involved and pricey as the 11 gobby bag quests, since the game also needs gil sinks.

---

Market Wards
Changes to the search tool include:

*Optional HQ filter returning 5 cheapest of each quality
*Gear listed on retainers in wards requesting repairs now searchable by Disciple of Hand class
*Ability to select a single retainer to mark and automatically transport to appropriate ward after confirmation. (AoE toggle button switches between single and multiple selection)

Changes to Stands in market wards:

*Renting a stand now allows your retainer to buy and sell on the World Market
*Rentals last for (48) hours
*Renting a stand requires that your retainer is Level 4+ (has World Market License)

World Market (previously referred to as the Auction House)

*When listing items for sale on the World Market there will be a (10%) additional tax penatly if the market stand is rented in a city containing the corresponding guild (shards/crystals= Alchemist guild= extra tax selling on World Market from Ul'dah, horn/tooth/hide= Leatherworker guild= extra tax selling on World Market from Gridania)
*When selling items on the World Market not represented by a city guild, no additional tax is required

*Browsing the World Market is now available by interacting with NPC stationed behind a desk in the central area of any market ward
*Players may claim purchased items (immediately) at (no cost)

*Players may search through a comprehensive item list on the World Market and select an item(s) they wish for their level 4+ retainer to actively seek purchase at specified gil reward. Searching of such requests would be permitted through use of the same desk-bound NPC. These requests each occupy one slot of the retainer's available bazaar.

*No requirement exists for players wishing to use this NPC for browsing/purchasing or filling a requested order from another player's level 4+ retainer.

Finally, I appreciate your time spent considering these alterations to the existing Retainer/ Market Ward systems, and the integration of a new World Market to add depth and unity to an already wonderful economy in Eorzea.

a bit hefty on the gil fees but all around good iidea

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kilta_Firelotus

a bit hefty on the gil fees but all around good iidea

---

a bit light on the gil fees imo, but the idea is really damn good.

We have too much gil running in anyhow....inflation rates in Eorzea are pretty high.

The idea and basis is really good though.

Question: How do you actually level up your retainer? My one's been stuck on level 1 for quite some time...

thats because ppl do levequests too much. What if a person don't do levequests all that often. gotta think about how it effects everyone.

Thanks for the feedback!

I would prefer to keep it simple and just buy upgrades through the NPC that handles retainers inside the originating Adventurer's Guild. Performance- or quest-based advancement for the retainers would be nice, but invivtes corruption and extra time in developement yielding same result.

Anything in (seemed fair) keeping players of all budgets in mind.

when i play ffxi im not gonna do levequests all that Often. I like killing things aimlessly :) not trolling I have add and I'm easily amused. I spent hours in ffxi just running around.

again not trolling iys just how I am :)

I'd say add retainer level = quest, which gives you access to the ability to purchase. Quests = content, which this game needs. I'd even be happy if they were as involved and pricey as the 11 gobby bag quests, since the game also needs gil sinks. Kill a few birds with one stone.

I like the idea OP

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kilta_Firelotus

thats because ppl do levequests too much. What if a person don't do levequests all that often. gotta think about how it effects everyone.

---

God forbid you have to earn something.

work = reward

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fieros

I would like to thank Rentahamster and Origamikitsune specifically for their ideas that inspired me regarding these matters.

---

Thanks and you're welcome ^^

Some nice ideas in your post. I haven't had time to look at all of them yet, but I'd suggest that maybe a slight simplification might do some good and to make sure there aren't any unintended negative consequences of some of your suggestions.

I think the implementation of buy orders would be good for the economy.

I'd also like to point your attention to this article: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/featur...os_.php?page=5

Dude has some pretty good ideas as well.

I wanted to paint as complete a picture for everyone as possible to reduce mis-interpretations of the concepts. As you mention though, simple is good. I'll work on a visual aid.

Any negative consequences that escaped me please point out and I will gladly address them.

Appreciate the link, that article was an interesting glimpse of the horrors back in November. If the author took another look today his title might read "A Case Study in Doing It Right". His initial summary of what players want from a game economy is spot on though. I question his judgement when he praises AC's economy. I loved that game for many reasons, economic system not being one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rentahamster

I'd suggest that maybe a slight simplification might do some good

---

Easy to Understand- click me!

I hope the flow chart with pictures can help quickly summarize most of the concepts. I think 12% of my hair turned grey during my first experience with photoshop. Much respect to any graphic designers out there.

I agree with the OP that being able to level up your retainer is a good thing, as well as a later suggestion that they be unlocked via quests. In my mind, these quests would allow the purchasing of special "permits" allowing the retainer(s) the additional abilities granted by the permit. Further, these permits would have recurring fees in order to continue access to the special retainer ability.

Some additional suggestions I have regarding possible abilities for retainers:

a) Linkpearl to allow talking to retainer. At first allows only viewing of items still in retainer bazaar.

b) Later, allow moving of items between retainer inventory and bazaar via linkpearl.

c) Still later, allow direction of retainer to a specific Market Area without having to "hold their hand".

Given that these are powerful abilities justifies the up-front and continuing costs to get and maintain them (and also adds some additional, needed gil sinks into the game).

Retainers going back to work after a ward crash would be really handy.

I would love options to upgrade retainers with gil rather than real money. I like the OPs ideas.

@Nabiri
Thank you ^^

@Griss
I can't argue with that. Ideally market crashes wouldn't happen (that's another issue, dev1018 specifically) but the proposed "transaction history" would solve the price destabilization which occurs.

@ Amineri
I added Origamikitsune's input about questing unlocks. I would hope they are challenging. Your suggestions adding various levels of remote-control via NPC Linkpearl appear very conveinent, particularly:

Quote:

---

a) Linkpearl to allow talking to retainer. At first allows only viewing of items still in retainer bazaar.
b) Later, allow moving of items between retainer inventory and bazaar via linkpearl.

---

Ongoing costs seem like more of a hassle, maybe just higher buy-in at each level?

What does everyone think?

Good job, kudos to you. I would support quest based leveling for retainer, with gil costs after. Constant upkeep costs are quite annoying though, I would like to be able to quest without worrying about feature time running out. I also support the ability to transport goods through a linkpearl and tell a retainer where to go. It basically becomes, "minion, go sell this stuff in that town, I'm going to go kill some more monsters!"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fieros

@Nabiri
Thank you ^^

@Griss
I can't argue with that. Ideally market crashes wouldn't happen (that's another issue, dev1018 specifically) but the proposed "transaction history" would solve the price destabilization which occurs.

@ Amineri
I added Origamikitsune's input about questing unlocks. I would hope they are challenging. Your suggestions adding various levels of remote-control via NPC Linkpearl appear very conveinent, particularly:
Ongoing costs seem like more of a hassle, maybe just higher buy-in at each level?

What does everyone think?

---

Ami and I went back and forth on this one for a while. I'm of the personal opinion that the added cost of a recurring fee, while a good gil sink, becomes too much of an annoyance. When you have to keep up with how much you have payed, or whether or not you payed this week/month, then it essentially amounts to paying a bill. I don't know about everyone else, but bills are certainly on my list of real-world things that I am trying to get away from when I talk about the escapism that a game offers! I don't want to be paying them in-game, too.

Unless of course The Guild of Arm Breakers will come and Break My Arm. Turn it into a plot twist somehow, and suddenly I'm hooked. Then, I'll let them break my arm just to see the little "achievement" pop up on lodestone. "Pooka Pucel has achieved Rank 30 Weaver." "Pooka Pucel has arrived at Camp Nine Ivies." "Pooka Pucel has received a Broken Arm."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by origamikitsune

Unless of course The Guild of Arm Breakers will come and Break My Arm. Turn it into a plot twist somehow, and suddenly I'm hooked. Then, I'll let them break my arm just to see the little "achievement" pop up on lodestone. "Pooka Pucel has achieved Rank 30 Weaver." "Pooka Pucel has arrived at Camp Nine Ivies." "Pooka Pucel has received a Broken Arm."

---

LOL

Updated Diagram- clicky! (snazzy graphics added, Cid makes an appearance!)

Currently, most comments seem favorable towards the proposed retainer upgrades. No specific problems have been raised regarding the market ward changes or World Market created.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aldarin

I also support the ability to transport goods through a linkpearl and tell a retainer where to go.

---

The NPC pearls are for communication far as I know, so sending/receiving items through them wouldn't make sense to me.

Very sharp ideas here.

It would help alleviate storage issues, inflation, and give devs a perfect scenario to introduce additional content via the retainer quests.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kilta_Firelotus

thats because ppl do levequests too much. What if a person don't do levequests all that often. gotta think about how it effects everyone.

---

I didnt make any of my millions from guildleves, since from 33 I've failed BW to 50 lol.

You can make millions from rank 1 synths.

^ Shards much?