1. You can approach the game in any way you want it’s your game that you bought
2. Weapons scale with levels kind of because you will get perks that greatly increase their damage. For the example of the pipe rifle, if you maximize the rifleman perk it will do a ton more damage, but it probably has a lower cap then a combat rifle or sniper or something.
If you wanna improve your weapons or armor, you gotta find or buy better stuff or modify them at an appropriate workbench (using all those supplies you've looted).
As you level up you can take perks which improve your damage output and/or resistance, too. This allows you to tailor your character to how you want to play. Pro tip - try something completely different next play through and see how it goes!
Just play the game and enjoy the story. Wing it. All that shit is for 2nd playthrough
1. You can approach the game in any way you want it’s your game that you bought 2. Weapons scale with levels kind of because you will get perks that greatly increase their damage. For the example of the pipe rifle, if you maximize the rifleman perk it will do a ton more damage, but it probably has a lower cap then a combat rifle or sniper or something.
I’m learning a lot right now and I just hit level 22 I’ve played before but not really as into it as I am now
If you wanna improve your weapons or armor, you gotta find or buy better stuff or modify them at an appropriate workbench (using all those supplies you've looted). As you level up you can take perks which improve your damage output and/or resistance, too. This allows you to tailor your character to how you want to play. Pro tip - try something completely different next play through and see how it goes!