For Final Fantasy XIV players, the allure of customization and unique glamour options is a powerful driving force. We spend countless hours crafting, raiding, and yes, even relying on our trusty retainers to bring back that elusive piece of gear we've been desperately seeking. Among the many items retainers can potentially unearth, the legendary Hermes Boots hold a special place in the hearts of many. These stylish footwear pieces, often associated with speed and agility, are a coveted glamour item. But how do you maximize your chances of your retainer returning with these prized possessions? And what's the best strategy to turn those retainer spoils into valuable scrips and other rewards? This comprehensive guide delves into the world of FFXIV retainers, focusing on the potential for them to bring back Hermes Boots and how to leverage the scrip system for maximum gain.
Understanding the Retainer System in FFXIV
Before we dive into the specifics of Hermes Boots, it's essential to grasp the fundamental mechanics of the retainer system. Retainers are essentially your personal assistants in Eorzea, capable of performing a variety of tasks, including:
* Storing Items: Retainers provide extra inventory space, a godsend for any serious crafter, gatherer, or hoarder. Each retainer offers a significant amount of storage, allowing you to offload materials, gear, and other miscellaneous items.
* Selling Items on the Market Board: Retainers are your conduits to the player-driven economy. They can list items for sale on the Market Board, allowing you to profit from crafting, gathering, or simply selling unwanted gear.
* Ventures: This is where the magic happens in terms of potentially acquiring Hermes Boots. Retainers can be sent on Ventures, essentially short missions that reward them with experience, items, and gil.
Types of Retainer Ventures
There are several types of retainer ventures, each with its own characteristics and potential rewards:
* Quick Exploration: A short, randomized venture that can yield a wide variety of items, from crafting materials to gear. This is generally considered the best way to level your retainer quickly and is also the most unpredictable in terms of rewards.
* Hunting Ventures: These ventures target specific types of enemies or gatherable items. They require your retainer to have a specific class (combat or gathering) and a minimum item level.
* Field Exploration: Longer ventures that explore specific zones in the game world. They offer a higher chance of rare and valuable items compared to Quick Exploration, but take significantly longer to complete.
The Allure of Hermes Boots and the Scrip Connection
Hermes Boots, along with Strider Boots (a similar but often less desirable variant), are collectable items that can be obtained from retainer ventures, primarily Quick Exploration. These boots, and other similar collectables, are not primarily designed to be worn. Their primary purpose is to be turned in to specific NPCs for collectible appreciation and in return for scrips.
Scrips: Your Ticket to Valuable Goods
Scrips are a form of currency used to purchase a variety of items from scrip vendors. These vendors typically offer valuable crafting materials, gear, and other sought-after commodities. There are two main types of scrips:
* Crafters' Scrips: Earned by turning in collectable crafted items.
* Gatherers' Scrips: Earned by turning in collectable gathered items.
Hermes Boots (and Strider Boots) can be turned in for either Crafters' or Gatherers' Scrips, depending on your preference. The amount of scrips awarded depends on the item's collectability rating, which is determined by its condition and level.
Maximizing Your Chances of Retainer Bringing Back Hermes Boots
While there's no guaranteed method to force your retainer to return with Hermes Boots, you can take several steps to increase your odds:
1. Level Up Your Retainer: Higher-level retainers have access to higher-level ventures, and their overall stats (item level, perception, gathering, etc.) improve, increasing the likelihood of successfully completing ventures and obtaining better rewards.ffxiv retainer bring back hermes boots
2. Equip Your Retainer with Appropriate Gear: Ensure your retainer is equipped with gear that matches their class and level. Prioritize gear that boosts their item level, gathering, and perception stats. For Quick Exploration, item level is key to unlocking better loot tables.
3. Focus on Quick Exploration: While Field Exploration ventures offer the potential for rare items, Quick Exploration is the most efficient way to cycle through ventures and generate a large volume of results. This increases your overall chances of stumbling upon Hermes Boots.
4. Manage Your Retainer's Inventory: Retainers have limited inventory space. If their inventory is full, they won't be able to bring back any new items. Regularly empty your retainer's inventory to ensure they can always collect rewards.
5. Understand RNG (Random Number Generation): Ultimately, the retainer system relies on RNG. There's always an element of chance involved, so don't get discouraged if your retainer doesn't bring back Hermes Boots immediately. Persistence is key.