FC Airships leave out most players?

[Nalien]

I know there's going to be more to FC airships in 3.1, but even then, I'm betting it will be more for leaders than everyone else. The rest of us will be allowed to participate and do the work, and only the leaders will get to play with the interesting bits.

Doubt it. Free Company leader will be able to pick where you go, but you'll all probably be needed for the content on the floating islands airships are meant to make accessible in 3.1, with the exception of perhaps the gathering nodes that are there. Depends how access to the islands works though, if it is a simple matter of sending the airship there, then everyone can port there, I see no problem.

Do you really think you're missing out on much though? Currently it is effectively the same as Retainer Ventures, it's not the most thrilling piece of content. Arguably that could mean everyone should get to have a go, but then that creates its own problems. Either an airship can be in use for multiple people (leader sends it one way, you send it another, somehow it does both), or it continues to work like it currently does and you start getting annoyed at the member camping it. Would have to be the later, why? Supply. Same thing with gardening. If everyone could send the same airship off and reap the rewards, the items would lose their value. If everyone could garden, those items would lose their value.

[Sebasto]

Do you really think you're missing out on much though? Currently it is effectively the same as Retainer Ventures, it's not the most thrilling piece of content.

You may not think it's thrilling, but most of us understand that retainers are hugely important, especially for a crafter. They are not just important; they are vital.

[Nalien]

You may not think it's thrilling, but most of us understand that retainers are hugely important, especially for a crafter. They are not just important; they are vital.

Retainers sure are, for inventory space though, I don't think their ventures are, though. Outside something wonderful like "OMG I never have to farm shards/crystals again!", they're hardly vital. Most of the rare rewards from retainer ventures are either minions or odd materials like floss silk, which are mostly used for glamour/furniture IIRC. So far airships seem no different to me, though perhaps their rewards are more significant...

Curious, what kinds of rewards are we seeing from airships? What rewards are Free Company leaders hoarding that you'd like, exactly? Might be worth remembering that it is still early access and very few people have been focusing on things like gathering, what might seem extremely rare right now might be tomorrows Darksteel Ore...

[Unaki]

You may not think it's thrilling, but most of us understand that retainers are hugely important, especially for a crafter. They are not just important; they are vital.

Being able to get an assload of Kill-only materials from 8 retainers makes LTW, ALC, etc. much easier.