Retainers as Companions

[pyrofox]

I was thinking about it. It would be kind of cool if you could summon the retainers you have trained in a battle class like you do the chocobo. I mean I can trick out their gear and outfits, why not fight along side them. even if it's only like the squad quests.

[Enkidoh]

The thing is, retainers are retainers in the first place precisely because they are not cut out to be actual adventurers (this was stated outright when you hired one back in 1.0), but that they do excel in odd jobs that adventurers are meant to dislike:

"Retainers are men and women who offer their services in exchange for coin."
"Though they're seldom as sharp as adventurers like yourself, they're no strangers to life's more menial tasks. Tasks which your lot might not think worth your time."

Given my retainers keep bringing me back parts of houses that they're clearly stealing from construction sites (amongst other clearly 'hot' merchandise), I wouldn't trust them on the battlefield as much as I would trust an Ascian...

[Raven2014]

Eh not sure how that old definition still fit. Sure, back in the day where you can't make your retainer into job role that may make sense, but now you can.

Think about it, how many WHM existed in cannon currently beside the Padjals? One, and that's you. So if you have a WHM retainer, he/she is supposed to be really powerful.

[Alaeacus]

Eh not sure how that old definition still fit. Sure, back in the day where you can't make your retainer into job role that may make sense, but now you can.

Agreed. My retainer's gear is endgame Raid-worthy, and I send her out to rob people. Nobody can tell me that my retainer is unable to fight better than the undergeared Level 60 GC Squadron I have doing squats in their room.

I've wanted a system like this ever since I started playing FF14. SWTOR did it perfectly. Squadron members already have the AI. Just make them follow like a Chocobo.

[NealSnow]

Omg I'd love that! Battling beside my sla- I mean... friend who's contractually obligated to do as I say lest they be sent to copperbell mine to run it forever.

[Enkidoh]

Eh not sure how that old definition still fit. Sure, back in the day where you can't make your retainer into job role that may make sense, but now you can.

Think about it, how many WHM existed in cannon currently beside the Padjals? One, and that's you. So if you have a WHM retainer, he/she is supposed to be really powerful.

Being able to equip a Job to a retainer doesn't actually make them that Job at all though, it's merely a concession to allow them to wear AF/Job-specific gear, they're still just the same class as they started as (this is why they don't even equip an actual Soul Crystal but a mere scroll with the Job icon on it, it's basically a licence to allow them to wear that gear as just a costume basically). Equipping a Job to a retainer does absolutely nothing on it's own to improving the chances of them bringing back rarer items from Ventures, it's merely the gear you equip that decides that. (After all, the GC Squadron members do not have Jobs but just ordinary classes, and they're actual adventurers and career soldiers to boot!).

Hence, once again retainers are not adventurers, they're just hired servants who you send out to find things for you. Equipping a 'Job' just allows them to wear Job gear as a uniform, they're not actually using that Job at all (so your 'WHM' retainer for instance is not actually a WHM at all in any way).

[Jojoya]

I would imagine that if they allowed retainers to be companions, you'd lose the abiiity to send them on ventures and have listings on the marketboard at the same time you have them summoned as a companion.

Is that a trade-off you would be willing to make?

[Kytrin]

I would imagine that if they allowed retainers to be companions, you'd lose the abiiity to send them on ventures and have listings on the marketboard at the same time you have them summoned as a companion.

Is that a trade-off you would be willing to make?

Yes. Without hesitation. I only sell items on my gathering retainers anyway so they can keep on trucking. I would cheerfully drag one or two of my battle retainers out to help me kill shit! XD

Omg I'd love that! Battling beside my sla- I mean... friend who's contractually obligated to do as I say lest they be sent to copperbell mine to run it forever.

We need a laugh button! This comment has me giggling! XD

[Canadane]

Makes me miss our path companions...

[NealSnow]

Yes. Without hesitation. I only sell items on my gathering retainers anyway so they can keep on trucking. I would cheerfully drag one or two of my battle retainers out to help me kill shit! XD



We need a laugh button! This comment has me giggling! XD

You are welcome for the giggles