I just finished the game again under the new mod version. This time around I did the new quest line for the BS/Tang series, so I didn't have to worry about the whole Rebel/Government stuff. Although the game finished at only GL12, so I guess I could go and do one of the other quest chains now if it'll let me. It would be nice to find the rest of the toys available, and put some of the newer toys that I have to use.
As R@S noted, the best way to get money is just head outside the safe zone and wait to ambush a raider group or get attacked by one. Not only do you raise your skills from the combat, but you get plenty of loot that can either be used by your own guys (saves having to buy weapons at times) or sold to a dealer.
The biggest problem I had starting out was having a vehicle with a large enough trunk to hold everything. I forgot about the new vehicle upgrades, so I never upgraded the car. I waited until I could do the mission to escort Willy and his guys to Cali, where I got the truck (just like in the vanilla game). From that point on, the money was just rolling in. I could get $30-50k per raider attack if I sold everything, and as I progressed further into the game a trunk load could be worth $300k. It takes a few attacks to fill the trunk, but I was making more than enough to cover restocking ammo, replacing damaged body armor, etc. I got medical gear from bodies, or would just rest up for a few days in a town. Paying doctors to heal was just too expensive, and by the time I got the doctor for the army base I had my tactics down good enough that I never needed it.
One thing that I did notice, is that I was hording. I would buy up dozens of grenades and helmets and vests and plates, not to mention enough weapons to supply an army. Eventually I had to go in and clean out my locker just so I didn't have to scroll for ages just to find what I needed. Ended up bringing in almost a half-mil from selling all of the weapons that I wasn't using along with the magazines and ammo for weapons I no longer had. I even kept the cab of my truck loaded with RPG rockets, spare vests, ammo boxes, things that I might need out in the middle of nowhere.
My suggestion, hire cheap mercs to start with and skill them up as you go. Don't keep switching weapons too often, give them time to find the right weapon for them and get used to it. Sell everything you don't need, but keep enough ammo stockpiled just in case. When you can afford it, stop using locally-made ammo, it's less effective and increases wear on weapons. And keep checking with the bartender in PV for that escort mission, it's decent loot along the way and the truck is the most useful item you'll have.
There are several "free" mercs that you can find along the way. Other than Paquito, I have seen at least 3-4 that you can use as long as you want, although their skills are lacking compared to the ones you can hire. I didn't mess with the slaves bit, as it didn't show their skills first. But I did hire people that were skilled in roles that I needed, such as a Sniper or Machine Gunner.
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