SE - Default 3rd Retainer before Fees

[chocomaid]

I won't disagree that having extra retainers gives a player an advantage, but you're completely overlooking that the game already gives an advantage to players who pay more. People paying a standard fee can have 8 characters on a single server (each with 2 retainers), over people paying the entry fee. Having extra characters is a way better tool to monopolizing markets than extra retainers so you're really reaching if you want to argue that extra retainers is what's breaking the balance.

I 100% definitely agree with you that having extra characters/alts is a better tool than extra retainers. This whole thread would be moot and non-existent if only SE could let us friend our alts and send them mail but alas, it's not that time yet

Note that I and a number of people don't want to just be "given" or be "handed" a free retainer off the bat, that's just ridiculous. We want the means to get it, without spending real money.

You want better gear -> craft it -> better gear
You want better gear -> dungeon or raid or quest it -> better gear
You need items for crafting -> buy it from the markets - > items
You need items for crafting -> farm it -> items
You want adventure -> see the world, do quests -> adventure
You want a social experience -> Join FCs, LSs find RPers etc -> social aspect
You want new items brought by new patch -> craft it -> items
You want new items brought by new patch -> dungeon or raid or quest it -> items
You need extra space for new stuff -> You need to pay for it -> wut

Make it IN-GAME, include extra retainer via quests, grand company assignments, a gil fee. Don't take it outside the game is all I ask.