Retainer Clarification

[Hasrat]

So, I probably already know the answer to this, but the retainer page on the Mogstation has some unclear wording that I thought I'd ask about.

Your FINAL FANTASY XIV service account allows you to hire up to two retainers per character as part of the basic subscription fee.

First, the page acknowledges that two retainers are a part of our subscription.

But then, in the table that follows, the first column is labeled "Number of Additional Retainers." The associated fee for 1 and 2 Additional Retainers is "No additional fee."

If I am to take this page at face value, then, in theory, I should be allowed to hire up to 2 additional retainers, in addition to the two that we are granted with our subscription, for no additional fee.

But that's not actually how it works, is it?

[AliBob]

pretty sure it means the total amount together
they give you 2 for free
but lets say you want a 3rd one you select the option for
1 additional retainer and it charges you the month to have it.
then just go to the retainer counter at the town hub and just hire the 3rd one.

[Hasrat]

I'm sure that's the intent. But the way it's written does not convey that clearly.

[Ryaz]

Yep. I have 4 retainers. Only 2 free, the other two I have to pay for. You can pay for up to 7 more right now, for a total of 9, and once the app comes out, you can pay $5 so you an spend another $2 to hire a 10th retainer.

Yes, you now need to pay microtransactions just so you can buy more microtransactions.

[Vivi_Bushido]

Yep. I have 4 retainers. Only 2 free, the other two I have to pay for. You can pay for up to 7 more right now, for a total of 9, and once the app comes out, you can pay $5 so you an spend another $2 to hire a 10th retainer.

Yes, you now need to pay microtransactions just so you can buy more microtransactions.

The 10th retainer is actually apart of the $5 premium package, no separate additional 2 dollar charge.

[worldofneil]

The 10th retainer is actually apart of the $5 premium package, no separate additional 2 dollar charge.

I'm afraid not. Not according to the Live Letter anyway:

The premium plan adds various additional features such as inventory management between retainers, the ability to purchase an additional retainer on the Mog Station, and also doubles the capacity of the saddlebag.

Apparently (according to Reddit) Yoshida was also quite insistent on stream that it didn't include the retainer, just the ability to hire.

[Hasrat]

Yeah yeah. Go gripe in one of the other dozen threads about the app.

[QueenSophie]

Nope i didnt. All they are talking about is the mogstation portion of adding additional retainers. Nothing was mentioned about app by OP. #reading

[Nezerius]

Nope i didnt. All they are talking about is the mogstation portion of adding additional retainers. Nothing was mentioned about app by OP. #reading

So you're simply misunderstanding the guy's post, then.

The last part of Ryaz's post talks about paying microtransactions (the premium fee for the app) to be able to pay microtransactions (being able to purchase another retainer above the current cap of 9 retainers).

[Iscah]

On the other hand, look at that phrasing - we can “hire” two retainers as part of the basic subscription fee.

What does the app supposedly do? Let you “hire” an additional retainer.

It’s still not clear, but the app may not be making you pay for the retainer on top of paying for the app subscription.