2.2 Retainers via Microtransactions

[Razzle]

You need to remember that we as players don't see what may or may not be behind the scenes. If I were a game developer and would introduce such a system where you can buy retainers for real money, I'd keep that in mind when designing future content and made sure to have many many more items and materials and items (even if the game can manage just fine with the current materials which some of them don't even serve for anything useful), in order to get the players to need more space.

For example if some kind of weapon enhacment item come out, I'd make sure to have different item to serve that for each weapon type, making players need to occupy more inventory space, instead of making it more convient and having one type of item for all weapons.

All the players wouldn't even suspect that's what made me change the design of the game and the reason I did it.

[Kayo]

WTF? No this is b/s. Real money for more "bank" space is whats done in F2P garbage games. I draw the line at premium services like name changes and server transfers and maybe even stupid little non-combat pets. This goes against everything promised by Yoshi and SE and makes them no better than other companies who have screwed their players over with this kind of stuff. Yoshi should be ashamed. I dont see myself sticking around for long if this comes out. One of the main reasons I even gave this game a second chance was for the promises theyve made and their track record with FFXI ... this pretty much defeats the purpose of P2P if this is the road theyre taking.

If there are to be extra retainers, make us earn it in game ... putting it behind a pay gate is just shameful, specially after everything we've been told. Whats next? Race unlocks?

[Reiryuu]

It has been confirmed in 2.2 that retainers will be able to go out on missions and gather materials and more. The person who spends their real life money on more retainers will have more access to materials and be able to obtain them much quicker than someone who does not. This is literally the definition of Pay 2 Win if these purchased retainers are able to perform these gathering ventures.

There is much more to be said about this topic but I feel as though I've presented the most important information. I know if this change goes live, I'll be talking with my wallet and cancelling my subscription immediately.

What do you all think?

I think it's a little early to start running around and saying that the sky is falling. Oh no... people can buy 100 retainers and crash the market of Apkallu eggs... so? People farm them to death and do that all by themselves. I'm guessing the materials that people actually need for i90 crafted stuff is going to be gathered from the new nodes that require high levels of gathering just to get something from. Your retainers are unlikely to be able to obtain this stuff for you, and that's the stuff that's likely going to be making the worth while profits. When they start selling i90 gear equipable at lvl 1, then we can start talking pay to win.

[SendohJin]

Huh? It is easy to change your character if the potion is on the shop.
It is not easy to change your character if the potion is a rare drop, or requires days of work, you know, actually playing the game than just accessing an online store and buying one.

a lot less people will do it willy-nilly if they had to pay real money for it, if it's a dropped item people might do it just because they have one.

[Tupsi]

They are gathering worthless items for crying out loud

Wonder how many people complained about Apkallu eggs...

[Doo]

This is how it always goes.

Company offers something small you can buy.

Fans " OMG GAIS it's only so-so item it's not a big deal!"

Company offers more stuff you can buy.

Fans " I'm okay with it because it's not directly P2W"

Company goes into full milking mode.


In reality players just want to pay for something that helps them play, hence RMT is so popular.

[Makado]

I think that there will be paid extras just because of his model of a mainly casual game they are doing here. They will want people that have less time to play in game be able to get bonuses and stuff.
Personally I am more pissed about having to pay extra money for when I use my internet over their limit or my phone data goes over and I get charged more with no benefits. At least this money will go towards a game I enjoy playing and hopefully provide a better experience for me.

[Finuve]

They are gathering worthless items for crying out loud, it wouldnt even bother me if ppl went all their way to purchase multiple retainers and put them all on ventures, market will be overloaded anyway and prices will went to shit, its not even P2W, geez... Just because they are introducting microtransaction, it doesnt necessarilly will put someone in major disadvantage or put it this way, winning this game.

NO. CAPS FOR EMPHASIS.

UNLESS THEY LET MY RETAINER FARM TWINTANIA.

all microtransactions in a subscription game are bad. The fact that modern gamers just get on their knees and suck them down is killing modern game value

And you dont get to define P2W, P2W is different for everyone. The fact that everyones example is always "Its not going to help you clear coil so its not P2W" is flat wrong. Someones definition of winning may be collecting large amounts of gil, retainers clearly help with that.

I quit tera because I was so damn annoyed that all of the event items were temporary and you had to pay for permanence. Collecting event items is a large chunk of enjoying a game to me, so locking the rewards behind a paywall is P2W to me

[PlanckZero]

Seriously... if I recall the recent 2.2 preview on the retainer services the example provided was the retainer taking an hour to gather something like 7 apkallu eggs...dear freaking god they're going to topple the economy.

It's not like they're going to let you buy 50 retainers and rake in hundreds and hundreds of drops per hour, you might be lucky if they provide the option to purchase two more retainers.

[Razzle]

a lot less people will do it willy-nilly if they had to pay real money for it, if it's a dropped item people might do it just because they have one.

Um, I don't get it lol
It's better to have the item instantly when paying for it, than it is to work and play the game towards it...?

As a player I'd like to think that the more things I can do in-game - The better. I'd like every single thing to be obtainable in game, even if it's super rare or take days to reach to - more goals for me.