Engineer class?

[WhiteRat]

I've been toying with the idea of an 'engineer' type of class to go with a fantasy setting with fanciful Renaissance-level technology -- think Final Fantasy VI, Vision of Escaflowne or Arcanum. Naturally, an integral part of this class will be the ability to construct devices of increasing power and complexity. But I'm having difficulty deciding just how to balance the progression of class features to make it work.

Are there any similar classes or prestige classes in other d20 supplements, online or offline, I could look at for inspiration?

 

[Crothian]

In Magic of Farun there is a gnome prestioge class that deals with creating machines.

 

[Jack Daniel]

No, the gnome artificier is a class that makes magical gizmos. A realy Arcanum-style technologist, however, is available on my website (link's in the sig). I have the class, but the tech items and invention system haven't been posted as of yet, because I'm still in the middle of the magic/technology chapter.