have a retainer

[armani7]

what do i have to do to have a retainer as a new player?

[Raldo]

Clear the storyline up through a certain point (some point below lv20, so assuming your post character is correct, you're already past that point). They give you a little blurb about them, then once you get that far, just go to the Retainer Vocate in any city (they're usually behind a counter around the area where the market boards are) and hire a retainer (it's free). You can currently hire two.

[Enkidoh]

Level 17 is the level for the story quest you have to complete to gain that ability - it comes after you leave your starting city on the Envoy quest (when you get your airship pass) and complete the first three instanced dungeons. The ability is unlocked by default as a part of this specific story quest. Then just go to the retainer counter at a market in any of the three cities to hire a retainer.

[Rezoslip]

I wish I could have 40 retainers.. just to hold all my garbage