It is time to get a 3rd free Retainer

[Snow_Princess]

We might be thinking the same thing with just a different way of how we see the program structure. I look at the retainer as the UI to a set of processes. Retainers could just as well be a chair or a stuffed animal. The problem isn't the retainer UI concept itself but the processes they spawn. In fact I rather like the interactive character abilitythey bring. If my understanding is close to correct the processes the retainers spawn all run on the server side and the data structures are copied and passed around between the various servers that perform each of the different functions. This is the problem that as the retainer inventory and character profiles grow they send more data between servers clogging up the communications stack and taking up more memory with replicated data. It is straight forward to resolve in multiple ways from a high level design viewpoint and should be able to be done in stages but SE has to be willing to assign the human resources to do it. When I was still working one of the things I did on projects I led was have the team bring in problem areas with old code. It could be a problem for many reasons such as too many code bugs, poor code structure that made modification risky, poor performance, etc. We would pick one or two to fix in addition to the new functions we were adding. To me the inventory issue is one of those areas I would have said let's fix for this next release.

The retainers should got their overhaul with the rest of 2.0
It could of been addressed and part of the update to go into heavensward of 3.0
Now it NEEDS to be addressed because it is breaking down "we can't do this we can't do that, retainers can't handle anymore unless we go to a new system, welp, that could of been down in 2.0 and 3.0 , now it NEEDS TO BE DONE!

[MrSmiley]

I dunno man, something something servers explode something.

[Naunet]

Counts the "appearance log" that functionally acts in a similar manner to achievements - it's a check mark that you've unlocked/completed something that can then be accessed at a specific NPC to change appearance data on a single item, not an actual inventory slot - and tries to pass it off in a hilariously disingenuous "inventory" count.

In Final Fantasy XIV, we have to KEEP every armor that we want to glamour, thus demanding inventory spots. You'll notice I specified effective inventory for my tally, as each armor skin, each toy, and each heirloom once took up its own inventory slot before Blizzard expanded their collections system. The fact that it doesn't now changes nothing about WoW's effective inventory.

[RichardButte]

The retainers should got their overhaul with the rest of 2.0
It could of been addressed and part of the update to go into heavensward of 3.0
Now it NEEDS to be addressed because it is breaking down "we can't do this we can't do that, retainers can't handle anymore unless we go to a new system, welp, that could of been down in 2.0 and 3.0 , now it NEEDS TO BE DONE!

This.

5.0 is only going to add another hojillion items to the game. It's not like MMO databases ever get SMALLER so the dev team really needs to get their shit together and deal with this sooner rather than later.

[Snow_Princess]

This.

5.0 is only going to add another hojillion items to the game. It's not like MMO databases ever get SMALLER so the dev team really needs to get their shit together and deal with this sooner rather than later.

It is later, it is fast approaching too late to fix ...

The "sooner" would apply to fixing it for 2.0

[Blackcanary]

We don't need any more retainers beyond two according to the devs - the developers said not a lot of people have more than two retainers so it is not needed...I wonder why so few people use them? Hmmm...

They ether sale there gear that they can no longer use/throw it away or they do not do any crafting.

[Krotoan]

They ether sale there gear that they can no longer use/throw it away or they do not do any crafting.

... or they have 7 alts that they had join their FC and move items back and forth using the FC chest.

[Madepossible]

Just the topic title: yes I want a 3rd retainer for free lol.

[Solarra]

Adding my support OP. A third retainer is the very least they should give us. I am paying for one extra at the moment and I'm still squeezed.

I see there are a couple of people posting with concerns for SE's profits - the company is doing just fine. I don't think this is going to give their shareholders palpitations. If it helps retain subs, giving us more free storage might even save them more than it costs.

And a few others don't need a third retainer and don't think anyone else should need one either - congratulations on your amazing organisation skills!
I spend a lot of my play-time making space by putting items I don't need immediately onto the MB, posting them to friends, vendoring them or sending them to alts via the FC chest and personally, I'd rather be doing something more interesting.
Note: Hiring retainers is completely optional. If you don't need a third, just don't hire one. This won't negatively impact you at all.

[NaoTenbe]

Two things that are the issue here, crafting mats, and storage of glamors.

These can be addressed by adding specialized tabbed storage ALA guildwars. If you want past a stack, then it'll use up actual inventory slots.
Ravamp the armory so you can store non specialized armors.

All things considered, I love this game, and am very glad they keep crafting relevant, even at low levels.
But because of that, they need to revamp the system to deal with it.

Something else that might help issues would be marketboard options.
1) allow cross server sales via MB, so you have a larger pool to sell wares at, as well being able to buy.
2) allow people to buy only PART of a stack instead of the entire stack of goods people toss in.
I am SO very tired of needing 1 or 2 items, and all that's available is a stack of 99 of something.