Retainers, confirmed, you have to pay for them.

[Morgan_Leah]

$2 a month for an additional retainer is nothing. I'll definitely be signing up for this especially for ventures. No more competing with bots for apkallu eggs

[HoneyBiscuit]

Alright! Time to voice some opinions.


1- Really don't care either way.

2- Yes I think there will be more paid services in the future. We know fantasia and name changes are coming. I completely support giving this game more money. I don't even have money and I'd give it to them. "Totally changing our idea of ARR?" No. Somewhat unsure of what that means actually. It is what it is.

3- Everyone is able to get the items with the use of a retainer. You don't need to purchase additional ones to receive the benefits of the ventures. To me it's not any different than somebody who has more time to play than I do.

However, additional storage space should be made available in game for free or in game currency. Especially since our wallets are what's paying for updates and future expansions in which more items will be added.

4- Maybe.

5- Don't feel strongly one way or the other.

6- Extra retainers aren't any more pay to win than somebody paying more for 8 characters per server. I don't see people with 1 character per server accounts crying about the people with 8 being pay to win. This is no different to me.

People like to throw the term pay to win around whenever a paid optional service is added in just about everything. Example of pay to win: ilvl req to enter an end game dungeon, is 120. Highest level gear that drops anywhere in the game 115. ilvl 120 gear on the cash shop.

Not pay to win; Paying additional money for optional character slots and retainers.

Consider the following when trying to determine whether some is pay to win or not.

Does not purchasing the service or item, negatively impact my ability to play the game?

You can try to argue here the additional retainers will offer someone an advantage over you. But you could also argue that somebody is better at making money than you so he's got an advantage over you. Or, that guy over there can play 20 hours a day so he's got an advantage over you. I think that guy get's all his gear for free from friends so he's got an advantage over you. Hey, that guy bought EX primal runs that's not fair to me. None of those things affect your ability to play the game and enjoy it.

The simple fact is an MMO is just like everywhere else in the world. No matter what there will always be someone more fortunate than you, and someone less fortunate than you. Until we start seeing paid services that gate you from content, there is no need to be concerned. Now if there were special items that absolutely require getting the additional retainers we'd have some problems. But seeing as that's not the case I'm not worried about it right now.

[Ravno]

If i paid the 2$, all my characters on the account can have an extra retainers ? Or only one character ?

[Lestrade]

If i paid the 2$, all my characters on the account can have an extra retainers ? Or only one character ?

2$ per retainer and per character each month. I do find it to be quite steep pricing to be honest.

1- What's your opinion about this? (Summarize)
I absolutely dislike it in subscription game as a matter of principle.

2- Do you think we will have more things like this in the future totally changing our idea of FFXIV:ARR?
If it is obvious this model works so what is stopping them? This is also why I think voicing my opinion about it is important.

3- Am I just exaggerating and it's something normal or that, 'doesn't affect gameplay' even if it's confirmed that those 'ventures' will grant us items, and even if it is clear that we will need more space storage in the future?...
That entirely depends on these items and what they are used for.
My speculation is that these items will not be in high demand so that the issue doesn't inflame our opinions further when some of us are already bummed about this ( surely they expected this ). Something like furniture maybe? That would give people time to acquire and stock on the item for when furnishings will be more attractive commodity on the market when player housing is released.

4- Is our voice enough for change these things?
Eh, I don't think so. In fact I don't think this decision belongs to the YoshiP himself.

5- Should retainers be in-game for gil or any other ways, giving the currency a little more of importance aside of housing?
Totally.

6- Taking in mind these kind of strategies, do you think eventually the game will become a Pay 2 Win, or, not radically that, but, slowly increase the amount of money we pay per month if we want to play it full advantages?
.. Sadly, yes I do. In fact I think it already has. How many players pay for VPN service to combat lag (read be competitive raider/pvper)? We pay for voice chat programs, forums, etc. to 3rd party companies. It is all optional and yet how often do you join a guild without those services available? Now we will also pay for optional inventory space, except this time to SE itself. It might seem like common sense - the higher premium you pay the better the benefits, right? I think it is just 'new' concept (read 'appeared in last decade or so') in gaming community where seemingly you had even playing field, unlike in real life..

[Kaisha]

If they made it less a total pain in the .... to exchange items between characters on the same account, I'd be less peeved about them charging for retainers.

In F2P MMOs I can buy more inventory for a flat rate. Here instead you're paying $2 monthly per extra retainer to access the extra space, which also gives you an advantage over non-payers by having more selling slots for the market board, and ventures.

[Heat]

4$ for 2 a month + 15$ sup = 19$ a month

other P2P games don't cost as much as this and have same storage space or more.

I don't like this idea at all.

[Djeserit]

4$ for 2 a month + 15$ sup = 19$ a month

other P2P games don't cost as much as this and have same storage space or more.

I don't like this idea at all.

Or! since you only need 1 character. Cheap sub = $10, +$4 for retainers = $14 a month, still less than other p2p mmos.

[Paintedtarget]

1- Very Bad Idea opens the door for eventual Pay to Win

2- I think it will lead to more items and eventual Pay 2 Win

3- If you are able to send out more retainers then someone who does not have this ability then yes it affects gameplay in a P2P game that should not occur. In F2P it would be a different discussion

4- No but enough people cancelling their sub when this goes in and stating why would be

5- Yes they should be in game for Gill or a one time purchase

6- I believe it will slowly keep increasing. Thus leading to a P2W scenario. I am already paying 15 dollars a month and now with 2 retainers I would be paying 19 a month and I feel that is very bad form from Square and it would lead to me cancelling my sub

[Noshpan]

I never intended to use the venture thing anyway, but since an additional retainer will cost real money, I will not be using it. I simply cannot afford it. Alas, I had hoped for a 3rd retainer... Paying for additional retainers doesn't affect gameplay. Just means you can hoard that much more stuff. I'll just have to get really good at Inventory Tetris.

[Ranzan]

All crafts to 50 - check
All gathers to 50 - check
8 out of 9 jobs to lvl50 with average ilvl 70 - check
Inventory space on retainers available - 89
Looks like I will be unaffected by this.

But I will say this.. I'm an inventory Nazi and have rules in place just in case this happens. The main rule I go by is "If its a crafting mat and its sold by npc it will NOT on my retainer period. There is no point in holding on to these items when they are readily available to you without taking a slot in your inventory.

I really can't speak for culinary and alchemy too much because I only gather enough to make items for myself and friends but i don't see a need for a 3rd or 4th retainer other than if you are a serious hoarder. If you are, well the mog station is over there. >_>

As for the venture system, all I can say is until I see the value in the unique items they can get mine retainer will FOREVR be farming shards. Shards till the cows come home I'm tell yall! I'll get everything else myself but I need both of those mofos to get dem shards. I'll buy the unique if they are anything good but any crafter will need shards. They are my main money drainer.