The word words 'play to win' are being use FAR too much in this thread, especially when we don't know the full extent of restrictions on ventures.

Also, for me, winning this game involves beating end-game content like t5, which I'm currently doing, with only 2 retainers :O and I dare say after 2.2 and my group starts going through 6-9 we'll be able to beat it... regardless of how many retainers we have :O

I'll even be able to clear the main scenario... with a mere two retainers!

So does someone wanna run by me how it's p2w? Bearing in mind you can't justify 'people with more retainers can get more mats etc' because again - you do not currently know what the restrictions are.
I highly doubt the ventures are going to work out better than if you just got up off your backside and got the mats yourself.