Can you play Salvage when there are no gear in play?

Ruling: No, you cannot play Salvage when there are no gear in play. A gear must be targeted when playing Salvage, though you may choose not to kill it during resolution.

Sequence:

• When playing Salvage, you must target a gear in play
• During resolution, you may choose whether or not to kill the targeted gear
• Regardless of whether you kill the gear, you draw 1 card

Nuances:

• The "may" clause refers to the choice during resolution, not whether a target is required
• Cards that instruct you to act upon something require a valid target, even if the action is optional