Any Benefit in Contributing to Camp Funds

[rick249kdr]

I'm still on chapter 2 and may just be a dummy but here's my question.

Is there any benefit to contributing to the camp's fund unless you have to?

I understand upgrading the camp takes your money but does giving trinkets or cash have any positive effect otherwise?

So far it doesn't seem like it, but I'm curious if it pays off later? Like if I take that gold bar you get from the burnt out village and donate it, is it better than hocking it at the fence?

[Benjo]

I hocked it at the fence and didn't see any repercussions. 

[rick249kdr]

Have you donated to the camp?

[YodaMan 3D]

I have donated and then used the money for upgrades.  I have upgraded and moved on and came back and the money was gone, with no upgrades.  Really didn't see much change either way.   I say if you do donate, go to the ledger and upgrade yourself.

[KRooKeD KRoW]

I donated one of the gold bars i got just so I could get the leatherworking kit, and it gave me an achievement for donating $250.  Not sure what happened with yours, but my upgrades followed me when I moved.  Haven't used it yet, but it seems the fast travel seems the most worth it out of all the upgrades. theres others to upgrade the supply caches of ammo, food and medicine.  Those upgrades add other items to them, and I think they auto-restock each upgrade.... I made the mistake of just getting all the upgrades for the supplies at once, and noticed afterwards they were restocked. 

One tips and tricks page I was reading said not to bother with the upgrades since you can do everything somewhere else in the game that has a train/carriage nearby for fast travel, but I feel I spend enough time at the camp that I'd rather do things there. Also,  I figured what else am I gonna spend my end game money on, so might as well.  Upgrading Dutch's Lodgings also makes it so that the NPC's donate more to the camp.  Buying upgrades seems to use the camp fund first, then uses your own to pay the difference, so having more from the NPC's is definitely better if you plan on doing the upgrades or restocking the supplies caches manually a lot.

[Poggy]

It affects their mood (dialogue etc), and your honor.  Upgrades add more concrete benefits, like improved stew, horse management from camp, more 'free' stuff, fast travel, and increased donations from others.  I mostly donate trinkets and cash and get upgrades and restocks.  I fence major stuff, like gold (you get more).

[shawn]

Basically, you can choose to be a greedy SOB and keep all the cash or you can donate which will make the gang basically like you more. Opens up new missions and you can get some cool stuff out of it.