NPC problem with my evil mage

I'm running a mage for the first time, as well as being my first evil character. I picked up Vollinger in Blackroot. (What's with the first tech npc you run into whether good or evil being a midget? Magnus-dwarf, Vollinger-gnome) I'd wanted to buy Vollinger a good gun while in Tarant, but the shopkeeper keeps begging me to leave. If my magic is so strong I can't buy from him, how come Vollinger's pistol still works in combat? Is there any where I can buy him a good gun? I tried to give Vollinger the stuff for him to make himself a repeater rifle, but he keeps equiping the hunting rifle that is needed and then it won't let him construct a repeater rifle. Is there a way to build it without buying him a second hunting rifle. Any help is most appreciated. Oh, and before anyone asks, I bought the hunting rifle from a blacksmith, I believe it was Garret in Blackroot. How I can buy from him and not the gunshop in Tarant, I have no idea.

 

dont build a repeater rifle! pickpocket the sharpshooter's pistol off of the gunsmith in tarant while hes sleeping, it is much better than the repeater rifle.

 

just wanted to chime in and say that if you have 100% magickal aptitude you better not be using a gun unless you want to critical miss yourself in the foot every time you fire it... so you really have no business trading with tech shopkeepers anyway. if you want a ranged weapon go for throwing and do the throwing master quest.

 

He wants the gun for his follower, not himself. I don't think Vollinger has 100 MA. I did find that kindof annoying that you can't equip your tech followers if you're a pure mage. I mean, why can't you just give them a few coins and tell them to go in and buy whatever wacky trechy stuff they need?

BTW, shouldn't this thread be in Hints and Tips?

 

yea, I meant it to go in Hints and Tips, but I screwed up. I've tried to move it, but I can't find anyway to do it.
I don't have any pickpocket skills. No melee, no dodge, just haggle, persuasion, and magic. This is the first time in any RPG that I've played that I'm using a pure mage. No weapon for backup.
I've found that if I'm going to murder someone(such as Arbalagh, the priest at the beginning of the game), I make Virgil wait outside the house or shop at night, then I use the unlocking cantrip for the door, go in murder them(Harm spell) and leave. And Virgil's reaction never drops. Will this strategy work through out the game?

 

find a "dark helm" (i believe that is what it is called) and equip virgil with it it lowers your alignment by something like 10 points at some interval i'm unaware of, but i got his alignment down to 65 by accident (i didnt identify it) but at least he doesnt complain anymore. (he still gets tons of critical misses later in the game though...)

 

wtf? u get vollinger in dernholm. Go up to sammy white and fate pickpocket his hand-cannon. in my opinion it is better than the elephant gun coz basically no MSR faster and less bullet use and still does decent damage. plus u can hold a lantern or shiel with it

also sleek, whats been bothering me for some time is your spelling of sombrero

 

wtf? u get vollinger in dernholm. Go up to sammy white and fate pickpocket his hand-cannon.

Yea, I didn't catch that one. I guess I was thinking about Blackroot. Sorry. Can you pickpocket something with a fate point even when you have no pickpocket skills?

I don't have any pickpocket skills. No melee, no dodge, just haggle, persuasion, and magic. This is the first time in any RPG that I've played that I'm using a pure mage. No weapon for backup.