confused on better weapons and armor

i would appreciate any feedback anyone can give me here. i've played the game and aint stupid but i am confused as a whole with getting better weapons and armor. i dont understand the whole salvageing aspect. is the idea to use a salvage kit on say a weapon, when you find a better one to replace it? i know you can add runes to items but beyond that, im stumped!

Salvage whatever you dont need that looks like it is made out of whatever your armor is made out of, for instance if you need leather try salvaging some animal hides, boom there is leather for your set of armor upgrades.

If you need steel or iron, try salvaging enemy weapons, and you will get steel and iron.

Tsunamii Starshine

ok understood, but then what do you do with these pieces like wood, steel or ingot? there are no crafting recipes in the game, which would obviously give you an idea on what to do next. this is really where im confused on what to do to get better stuff.

Find a crafter NPC in town. This is where you can have armor made. They will look like this "NPC Name [Armor]". Talk to that guy, and bring him materials and some cash and he'll make you armor. Remember to hold the alt key to see all the names of NPC's that are nearby so you can see them easily. Also: NPC's make some weapons in the same fashion as armor, but they dont make many. usually the best way to find new weapons is to kill monsters and get them.

great, thank ya very much, you the mang! both of ya.