Unique Equipment - Upgrade or reforge?

[ResumeMan]

I just got the forge (my second playthrough actually, but I didn't really know what i was doing w/crafting the first time).

It seems I can just take each of the items (thinking mostly of companion pieces here) to the "upgrade" tab and upgrade from Item I to Item II with a bunch of better stats.

Or I can dismantle the pieces and, for what I think is a somewhat higher cost, re-craft them, in at least some cases with a different name (e.g., servus toga to philosopher toga). I did a little experimenting but not much, and I'm unsure of the differences.

Which is better? Is it worth the (I think?) higher cost to dismantle/craft rather than upgrade? Thanks

[CRAGNAR]

Overall cost doesn't matter much. Just find some random areas on the map/random battles, etc, you'll get those resources back fairly easily if you are in true need.

Upgrade is totally worth it.
Reforge is worth trying to get max stats for something.
With those unique items it's worth it if you want to take the time grinding for it, since you can only do one at a time instead of multiples like standard equipment.

1 extra HP of damage, higher crit chance, extra bit of armor, 4HP points extra. All this really makes a major difference. And you got to factor in that over time everyone should have unique gear on your main characters, and your praetorians.

Biggest reason to not do it is the grind involved, waiting for it to be done, passing time, entering the camp, grabbing the gear, checking the stats, and over and over and over again it must be done. Then combine that with need for resources, and yeah.....

[asarokk]

If your gear has great stats and abilities for weapons, then just upgrade that. If you're not happy with it, dismantle and reforge. You might have to do it a few times because the stats and abilities is totally random. The unique armor that comes with the characters, isn't that good in my opinion, at least not in the last act. So you can forge armor that fits their build and if you're happy with the stats, you can dismantle their unique armor and add the charms from their unique sets and put that on the new armor.