Hi there, interesting post. Not sure what you mean by "story" but perhaps you will post one when you have that done.  On tools, Photoshop is a must but the usefulness of extended is debatable.  The 3-D features are pretty limited and I have always done 3-D work in something like Vue or C4D and exported the rendered items for post-work in Photoshop.  But heck, not sure what the price difference is  - I have extended and feel good knowing it's there, even if I never use it. 

Vue is an interesting product.  I have the xStream package but have only found it useful for landscapes and outdoor compositions.  For interiors I use C4D, which I really like. With the Interposer plugin, bringing in Poser content is a snap. I started out using Carrara Pro, which seems to be a blend of the three above, only the render quality, control, and speed was not there. I'm sure others have opinions, and more experience using Poser for interiors, which seems to have a large aftermarket for props.

Well, good luck!
coocoo