Nope, early in the morning I do not re-read entire threads to answer a single question I see. I saw page 1 but couldn't remember that you were past this already. To Hell with me that I dare to answer to a question without beeing able to remember the entire history from the question asker!

Jokes aside, maybe my other thread here tells you something: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...anges-anything

Maxing your retainers seems not worth doing it as far as my experiences went so far. After almost max melding them (with 2.0 accesoires and Forager items), I see no difference, not on 18 hour ventures, not on quick ventures, not on single items where I thought maybe more HQ items will be brought back.

So at this stage I have no clue what is needed to improve their findings because I have yet to see a difference. I can only tell you that there was so far no difference from just meeting the requirements for the highest 18 hours venture to overachieveing these requirements.