Tinkering thoughts

[Charlemagne]

Tinkering costs a lot of money. Sure you can get that engineering (or is it science) perk to make it cheaper, but anyway. I was wondering how to handle this economically. I tend to tinker anything that falls into my hands, only to get 5 minutes later a better weapon, obviously a bad habit. I've noticed a few things along the hard road.

-It's a bad idea to tinker unique weapons. 95% of uniques suck. Same with science weapons. When compared with a decently modded and tinkered normal weapon, usually they are equal at the same level, at best. A few have interesting side effects, but in general I use normals more, and uniques go to the storage bin. Maybe I should sell them.

-I'm wondering if it is worth to tinker companion weapons, or armor. Maybe only the first (dirt cheap) tinker. I don't think tinkering their current weapon affects their companion strike which seems scripted and always uses their original weapon. BTW the weapons that companions bring by default are usually superior to same-level weapons of the same kind. Perhaps it is best to leave them their original weapon? And their clothes? The clothes that they bring are stronger than normal clothes, stronger than light and medium armor sometimes.

-Tinkering has diminishing returns, or more accurately increasing costs with each added level. I think it is around doubled each time you tinker it. So, you'll never get that level 1 pistol to level 25. Maybe it's better to only tinker so far, say two or three times and then be content with the weapon until a higher level and better comes along. Because the costs are related to the level it had when it was found. For example, increasing a weapon you found as level 1 to level 2 costs say 50, then to level 3 100, and up and up until you are in the thousands. But if you find a level 12 weapon of the same kind, increasing it to 13 again costs only 50, to 14 costs 100, and so on. I think this is what may be in part the cause of unique weapons sucking, they are low level to start with and tinkering them up to a decent level is not affordable.

[Tenath]

Tinkering a weapon 2-3 times is OK, it's cheap. More than that is worth it if you really like how a particular weapon handles and want it to stay relevant for longer.

Ultimately, there's only so much that you can upgrade an item, maybe +10 levels, beyond that the costs are just too much even with the savings from Science. Past that point you'll have to switch out for something better to stay relevant. So with companion equipment you'll eventually have to upgrade to something else.

Many weapons are rehashed in Mk2 variety later in the game, with superior stats, but same base mechanics (Light Pistol, Plasma Cutter, Light Assault Rifle, Dead-Eye, Hunting Rifle, etc), so in this case you're provided with straightforward upgrade path.

Most generic (corporate) armor falls into one of 4 categories, and beyond the level tiers, the only difference between them is in the skill bonuses. Just pick whatever fits your playstyle the most, but don't sweat too much over it. The same advice goes for all equipment, really.

[Unfit]

It gets into tens of thousands for a simple single digit point upgrade. Had over 53,000 dosh by the end that didn't spend at the end. I hope they improved tinkering the new one.

[Charlemagne]

I guess it is intended that a weapon is supposed in practicality to be improved two or three times, you accept the weapon as it is, polish it a little, oil it and clean the bore, and use it until something better comes along which is usually real soon. One tends to overtinker and this is what I'm trying to learn and to tell others. When I overtinkered I was always poor, in the current playthrough I'm trying to discipline myself and money has become more abundant.
Another mistake is to buy non-unique weapons or armor. You see a nifty elite armor better than what you're wearing, you have money so why not. Three minutes later in the next dungeon elite armors start cropping up like mushrooms after a rain, you come out with 4 or 5, only to sell them for peanuts. What a waste buying yours. By the time weapons or armors start showing at vendors, be sure that you will start finding them for free as loot.
So what do you want the money for, anyway? Well, to buy unique weapons that you like, even if only to collect, to buy mods. To tinker #very special# weapons that you use a lot (like old reliable) a couple of times more.

[valium]

It can get ridiculously expensive on unique items you get early, like the corrosion pistol on the Groundbreaker, it is just one of those things they use to keep things relevant throughout the game, but keeps you from abusing it.