Retainer upgrades, Ward functionality, and the emerging World Market

[Fieros]

I wanted to paint as complete a picture for everyone as possible to reduce mis-interpretations of the concepts. As you mention though, simple is good. I'll work on a visual aid.

Any negative consequences that escaped me please point out and I will gladly address them.

Appreciate the link, that article was an interesting glimpse of the horrors back in November. If the author took another look today his title might read "A Case Study in Doing It Right". His initial summary of what players want from a game economy is spot on though. I question his judgement when he praises AC's economy. I loved that game for many reasons, economic system not being one.

[Fieros]

I'd suggest that maybe a slight simplification might do some good

Easy to Understand- click me!

I hope the flow chart with pictures can help quickly summarize most of the concepts. I think 12% of my hair turned grey during my first experience with photoshop. Much respect to any graphic designers out there.

[Amineri]

I agree with the OP that being able to level up your retainer is a good thing, as well as a later suggestion that they be unlocked via quests. In my mind, these quests would allow the purchasing of special "permits" allowing the retainer(s) the additional abilities granted by the permit. Further, these permits would have recurring fees in order to continue access to the special retainer ability.

Some additional suggestions I have regarding possible abilities for retainers:

a) Linkpearl to allow talking to retainer. At first allows only viewing of items still in retainer bazaar.

b) Later, allow moving of items between retainer inventory and bazaar via linkpearl.

c) Still later, allow direction of retainer to a specific Market Area without having to "hold their hand".

Given that these are powerful abilities justifies the up-front and continuing costs to get and maintain them (and also adds some additional, needed gil sinks into the game).

[Griss]

Retainers going back to work after a ward crash would be really handy.

[Nabiri]

I would love options to upgrade retainers with gil rather than real money. I like the OPs ideas.

[Fieros]

@Nabiri
Thank you ^^

@Griss
I can't argue with that. Ideally market crashes wouldn't happen (that's another issue, dev1018 specifically) but the proposed "transaction history" would solve the price destabilization which occurs.

@ Amineri
I added Origamikitsune's input about questing unlocks. I would hope they are challenging. Your suggestions adding various levels of remote-control via NPC Linkpearl appear very conveinent, particularly:

a) Linkpearl to allow talking to retainer. At first allows only viewing of items still in retainer bazaar.
b) Later, allow moving of items between retainer inventory and bazaar via linkpearl.

Ongoing costs seem like more of a hassle, maybe just higher buy-in at each level?

What does everyone think?

[Aldarin]

Good job, kudos to you. I would support quest based leveling for retainer, with gil costs after. Constant upkeep costs are quite annoying though, I would like to be able to quest without worrying about feature time running out. I also support the ability to transport goods through a linkpearl and tell a retainer where to go. It basically becomes, "minion, go sell this stuff in that town, I'm going to go kill some more monsters!"

[origamikitsune]

@Nabiri
Thank you ^^

@Griss
I can't argue with that. Ideally market crashes wouldn't happen (that's another issue, dev1018 specifically) but the proposed "transaction history" would solve the price destabilization which occurs.

@ Amineri
I added Origamikitsune's input about questing unlocks. I would hope they are challenging. Your suggestions adding various levels of remote-control via NPC Linkpearl appear very conveinent, particularly:
Ongoing costs seem like more of a hassle, maybe just higher buy-in at each level?

What does everyone think?

Ami and I went back and forth on this one for a while. I'm of the personal opinion that the added cost of a recurring fee, while a good gil sink, becomes too much of an annoyance. When you have to keep up with how much you have payed, or whether or not you payed this week/month, then it essentially amounts to paying a bill. I don't know about everyone else, but bills are certainly on my list of real-world things that I am trying to get away from when I talk about the escapism that a game offers! I don't want to be paying them in-game, too.

Unless of course The Guild of Arm Breakers will come and Break My Arm. Turn it into a plot twist somehow, and suddenly I'm hooked. Then, I'll let them break my arm just to see the little "achievement" pop up on lodestone. "Pooka Pucel has achieved Rank 30 Weaver." "Pooka Pucel has arrived at Camp Nine Ivies." "Pooka Pucel has received a Broken Arm."

[Fieros]

Unless of course The Guild of Arm Breakers will come and Break My Arm. Turn it into a plot twist somehow, and suddenly I'm hooked. Then, I'll let them break my arm just to see the little "achievement" pop up on lodestone. "Pooka Pucel has achieved Rank 30 Weaver." "Pooka Pucel has arrived at Camp Nine Ivies." "Pooka Pucel has received a Broken Arm."

LOL

Updated Diagram- clicky! (snazzy graphics added, Cid makes an appearance!)

Currently, most comments seem favorable towards the proposed retainer upgrades. No specific problems have been raised regarding the market ward changes or World Market created.

I also support the ability to transport goods through a linkpearl and tell a retainer where to go.

The NPC pearls are for communication far as I know, so sending/receiving items through them wouldn't make sense to me.

[Airlea]

Very sharp ideas here.

It would help alleviate storage issues, inflation, and give devs a perfect scenario to introduce additional content via the retainer quests.