Things you should/could buy for companions! Spoilers~

[Wizu]

This game features a loaning system, where you can just slap on a item on a slot npc already has something or which is empty.

If you can spare the nyen and have favourite companions you want to see as a "just bit better" there are some things that are better than even their most upgraded gear. For example:

Is0bel can greatly benefit from the best deck, her own deck never breaks 3 evasion and 3 ap per turn whereas the best deck has. You should also get one extra decking program, I prefer Blaster 3.0 since its a sure-hit most of the time circumventing enemy dodge chance and if the blast is on a spot that "flanks" it can actually crit behind cover. Other things to consider is Dual Boost for extra running speed, unlike other items you cant "loan" programs, so you're stuck with giving her just one. Also, get her an assault ESP so she can fill all her ESP slots, assault is the better one. And since there is atleast one hard decking mission thats necessary, the ap 4 deck saves you -alot- of gray hairs. Her pistol and grenade launcher are already the best items in slot considering her endgame skill-caps.

Duncan can use Vindicator Minigun and Laser Sniper Rifle, and you ought to buy him the ranged combat 7 requiring non-smartlinked assault rifle to replace the silly Colt he is sporting. You can find a Steyr Aug assault rifle in the second last mission which is considerably less damage but has on-hit marking with tracer rounds. Vindicator is store bought and the Laser drops on ARES mission. Also Traveller pointed out that Duncan is better than Is0bel with grenade launcher, and its true. Also, gl is cheap. And can crit behind covers for 28 damage - much better choise than the semi inaccurate minigun.

Gaitchu could really use the Emperors Sword from the museum (just kill the space ninja) unlocking him the normal melee attacks with swords, and Emperors Sword is the best non-qi sword in game. If you havent specced him to bitey mc bitey, you can buy him a throwing star for ranged options and put it ontop the claws, he is actually super good with them and it stacks with the shuriken skill.

Gobbler can use the "Wild One" smg for extra flushing goodness and always on AOE (needs the territoriality smg upgrade to get her flush), you get it from the ship mission by either killing both the groups at end with the Blue Oysters first or just only them, drops from their boss. She can also use the store bought Acid Bolt III which is a pretty decent magic based alternative to shooting. Or just buy her a 3rd submachine gun - flush all day long! For spells the best she can buy/cast is Heal II, Armor II and Double Blur, this is however just a personal opinion. And her Aim II can be replaced with the Wild Aim II you can deck out off museum mission. Good old Gobbler is also the best candidate for using the Taser Pistol you can buy from Zaak for low amount of nyen on the third last mission, just get it before confronting the X-named info broker.

Ratchet and clank can be upgraded by getting him one of the drone control 5 required drones and putting it over his pistol slot, the boost-gun works on any drone he is using. Good drones to use is the Drugmule and the floating Assist drone which gives on-demand marking and armor stripping.

Thats it! You should get enough nyen to consider boosting atleast one extra combanion aside from the cheaply boostable ones, the most benefit you can get is from Is0bel and Gobbler, Vindicator is a bit inaccurate for Duncan and Steyr Aug exist as a drop. To make Gaitchu the best he can be costs just 400 nyuen and Ratchets extra drone will have a coinflip of a chance hitting something, same as his regular pistol/revolver. Does give him one extra ap in drone form tho.

Edit: Just came to mind that you could prolly give Gobbler the ap-banking Bound: Strip Armor II spell too, think she has enough spellcasting for it. If you prefer to wreck enemy armor instead of boosting your own guys. Or just slap it ontop of the heal spell, its not like you cant use Shamanic Salves and the plentiful medkits the game gives you to cure bruises.

[Wizu]

As an addendum, you can hit all the extra karma giving/good ending dialogue if you go Charisma 4 with Gang and Shadowrunner etiquette, Spirit Summoning 3 and Conjuring 1. Spirit summoning and conjuring unlock you the two charisma boosting inventory items for 7 karma, so you save on karma needing to buy Charisma high and get Armor I and a totem of your choise out of the deal. The last thing you need is the cyber Pheromones that cost 0 essence to hit the magical number of 7 Charisma, enough for all the skillchecks.

Also conjuring 1 lets you assense magical auras.

[DerOger]

hm, I always assumed that they somehow lose the additional equipment after one run. Do they actually hold on to these items for the rest of the game?

[Wizu]

Nope, after a run the item returns back to your stash inventory. Gotta re-equip before every mission.

[Lothiniel]

No they dont, items keep getting back into the stash ((without used consumables), so you have to give them bevor each mission the items again.

[DerOger]

Originally posted by Wizu:

Nope, after a run the item returns back to your stash inventory. Gotta re-equip before every mission.

Nice! Thanks for the info!

[TheDeadDude]

Really good info! As far as buying weapons/gear for them thats a big no no in my book. Cash in this game is stupidly tight to the point it drains half the fun of customizing your characters. It's not like Dragonfall where you can get ginormous amounts of cash from your runs.

[Wizu]

Also max karma I got for human on the end was 220 - I might have missed one or two karma spots due to lack of etiquettes and int - will need to go through a cheated playthrough to see if more is possible.

[Bigweejoe]

How can you afford to even think about buying for your team!? as a decker/rifle user. I'm skint just buying a decent assualt/sniper and a deck. Currently on the tower, have best assualt and an average sniper with an average deck(lvl 3 programs) and seriously strapped for cash

[Wizu]

Save money by not buying anything until shops upgrade to selling armors with 8 armor.

Always do the matrix paydatas.

Sell as much info as you can to Law, he will dry up after a while but its still nearly 2k.

Sell the spare docwagons, medkits and grenades that arent highest qulity - you dont need them to finish missions if you play smirt.

Generally just sell it if you or your team arent using something.

Always get the best completion bonus for runs by fulfilling all optional objectives.

In the end, having done all that - you'll score roughly 30-40k before the last mission.

That enough to equip a full boss-killing team and kit out yourself to the gills, the best gal to buy shop upgrades is Gobbler and she doesnt need more than 4kish.

[Kernest]

Originally posted by Wizu:

Save money by not buying anything until shops upgrade to selling armors with 8 armor.

Always do the matrix paydatas.

Sell as much info as you can to Law, he will dry up after a while but its still nearly 2k.

Sell the spare docwagons, medkits and grenades that arent highest qulity - you dont need them to finish missions if you play smirt.

Generally just sell it if you or your team arent using something.

Always get the best completion bonus for runs by fulfilling all optional objectives.

What I'd add to that is, don't buy combat stims. Cram especially is awesome, but I played through an Adept / drug addict route, and barely had the money to buy new skills and armor for myself, in addition to supplying my drug habit. That being said, i didn't do everything optimally.

Also, there's like an extra 2K you can earn in the Prosperity tower if you just get to make a deal with the VP (I got it with the shadowrunner etiquette, told the receptionist I was there to see "Mr. Johnson") and then just don't hand him the money. I personally handed the money, but I assume not handing it over starts the count towards matrix security alarm, which makes it quite a bit harder to make it to the matrix security point in time, but hey, it's 2K. Not sure if there are other ways to earn that 2K though.

[Traveller]

Get a grenade launcher for Duncan.

[Raz//RIP Kentaro Miura]

Word of caution:
There is a bug around that prevents your loaned items from being given back,pretty much throwing your investment out of the window after one run.

[Wizu]

I ran through 70% with loaned items and never encountered it, if its the same one from dragonfall, its mission specific. If that happens just rewind.

[ppaladin123]

Still trying to acquire decent spells for my mage about half way through...hoping money gets a little less tight soon. Definitely want to boost isabel's AP and walking speed.

[gkathellar]

All good advice. I like your nicknames for the companions, OP.

Originally posted by ppaladin123:

Still trying to acquire decent spells for my mage about half way through...hoping money gets a little less tight soon.

Don't hold your breath.