I suggest if your going to invest in both characters you get yourself the CDs for both first and then upgrade to V2 and M2 when you familiarise yourself with them and/or budget allows. The CD comes with their basic clothing packs as well as hair and some other goodies I believe. Hell, I should have followed my own advice. As for Steph, she is based off Michael's mesh but is a stand alone character not requiring either Micke or Vick to use :) She can use Vick's clothing and hair quite well. She can also take Mike's morphs, albeit it some look alot better than others.