Outer Worlds 2’s gear and skill points are far too restrictive

Overall, I’m having a great time with The Outer Worlds 2. The sequel improves on its predecessor in a number of ways, from environmental design to player movement mechanics, and has a great sense of humor to boot. Combat, too, has largely improved, with players capable of wielding multiple powerful gadgets as opposed to solely using the game’s VATS-esque Tactical Time Dilation Device. But one aspect of combat falls woefully short of the first game: gear. Specifically, gear with special skill perks.