Retainers, confirmed, you have to pay for them.

[Doo]

I'll just have to get really good at Inventory Tetris.

Doesn't that make you feel like you're not getting the full game benefits even though you're paying for subs?

That's pretty much how I felt like when I was playing DCUO where they had a mix of cash shop selling advantages + subs.

Did this DCUO go F2P, by any chance?

It was always f2p but they limit you to the point of where you couldn't do anything unless you paid. F2P + cash shop + subs.

[Lyrinn]

Lots of slippery slope arguments in this thread.

I'm on the fence on the whole issue, but the current implementation of retainers looks harmless. If the tokens for ventures are capped - that is, if 2 retainers can do the same things as 4, simply taking more time - then there's literally no advantage gained to having them so it would not be "P2W" (wouldn't be P2W even if it was, more like "Pay to have really small 'advantage'").

With that being said, I won't be paying for them, not worth the cost to me.

[Tannlore]

1- I'm neutral about this. Part of me is leery about an extra paid monthly service for these retainers. But on the other hand, we do get two already out the gate at level 15. So it isn't like we get no retainers. It reminds of of Blizzard's store and the pets/mounts you can get. Fluff stuff with some benefit. Meh.

2- Yes, Fantasia Potions for starters. I can also see things as I said above coming too.

3- It will most certainly have an impact on game play. The question is: How big of an impact? Depending on how fast you vet coins to pay for ventures and how the items you receive work and the timing, it will have some sort of impact, minor or large. I don't think it'll be so bad honestly that it will cause problems really.

4- Yes, they have shown the willingness to change things if the player base speaks out enough about it. But as he said, the payment is to offset server load.

5- Yes

6- No, I don't think so. Not unless it goes F2P that is. Really this game is all about the treadmill and time. How long you're willing to run on it to get your gear. Even of you could pay to speed it up, you'll hit the wall a lot of players have here waiting for 2.2: Nothing to do... did it all. So really, paying to speed it up just gets you bored faster and your wallet a bit thinner.

[Kaisha]

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

Entry-level is $11.99, not 9.99. So you're paying $16 still, which is higher than most MMOs that offer more inventory storage options.

[Gextiv]

Doesn't that make you feel like you're not getting the full game benefits even though you're paying for subs?

That's pretty much how I felt like when I was playing DCUO where they had a mix of cash shop selling advantages + subs.

Did this DCUO go F2P, by any chance?

[KiriA500]

I hate having the option to optionally buy something optional, optionally!

DAMN YOU, SQUARE-ENIX!

(Nah, I lie. Shut up and take my money! More inventory space for $2!)

[MVague]

I've already posted my feedback on this whole ordeal on reddit, and I got quite a few ups, so I'll post it here too.

Quite frankly I find this disgusting. More bag space, a higher marketplace selling cap, and an extra source of gil income for RL money? Why the hell are we paying a sub then? GW2 charges a ONE TIME fee for more bagspace, and it has no sub. If I wanted to pay for convenience and cosmetics instead of earning them by playing, I'd go play a f2p game... This is just super douchey in my book, especially with how ventures work, and I don't understand why people are fine with getting bent over like this...

Also the slippery slope is so true. A little more $, a little more $ there aaand the game is dead... (continued 2 comments below)

[Noshpan]

Doesn't that make you feel like you're not getting the full game benefits even though you're paying for subs?

That's pretty much how I felt like when I was playing DCUO where they had a mix of cash shop selling advantages + subs.

It's not like I'm going to lose the two retainers that I already get with the game. I don't need additional retainers anymore than anyone else does, though having more would be a nice convenience, especially since I've been leveling up some of my crafting classes. So, no, I do not feel like I'm missing out. Do I wish I could get one more retainer for free? Yes. Am I upset that I won't? No.

Besides. It could be worse, it could be like some games where you don't have access to any inventory storage (beyond your character's personal inventory) without paying real money for. *cough* SWTOR *cough* And, to a lesser extent, EverQuest II *cough*

[MVague]

Also the apologist fanboys defending this don't realize, that they are actually hurting the game's lifespan by supporting this imho. If I weren't already playing, and checked out FFXIV for the first time, then saw you needed to play an extra MONTHLY fee ON TOP OF YOUR SUB, I'd just walk away and never look back. It's downright ridiculous. I'd be offended if it were even a one time fee, because the reason I play a sub fee game is so I can go and play the game to EARN the stuff I want instead of paying extra IRL money for alleged "convenience" or "cosmetic" stuff. Again, would play a F2P game if I wanted that.

And above that, in my book this already falls in the pay 2 win zone. Why? Because I consider myself quite a hardcore trader. And +40 selling limit? That right there is an edge over other traders. For IRL money. You get it.

This soured me so much that I'll consider moving over to one of the new MMO releases (won't name which to avoid potential flame) unless this changes.

[Doo]

So, no, I do not feel like I'm missing out. Do I wish I could get one more retainer for free? Yes. Am I upset that I won't? No.

It depends on how much influx of new gear and mats for me. It's already a hassle sorting inventory. Plus if this works out well and S.E makes a good chunk of money they will continue to sell these type of small advantages till your sub feels like it's not good enough.