Tinkers Handbook?

[der_kluge]

Well, there was a netbook - the netbook of tinkering. I should know; I wrote it.

And I still contend, as was the case in that netbook - tinkering is not a class, it is a skill. Anyone should be able to do it if they apply enough skill points to it. A rogue can tinker, a cleric can tinker, a wizard can tinker, etc. It doesn't make sense to make it a specific class.

 

[Conaill]

Since I'm currently playing a tinker gnome alchemist, I figured I'd post a little list of the main sources I'm using:

- MaoF Gnome Artificer PrC: harsh entry requirements and seriously underpowered, but the most "official" source. With a lenient DM, this one can easily be done entirely non-magical (waive the spellcasting req., replace some of the higher device powers).

- "Powerclasses: Artificer" by Mongoose: seriously overpowered (it essentially duplicates the Gnome Artificer abilities, plus a bunch more, and it's not even a PrC!)

- "Magic" by AEG: has a section on technomancy and tinkering. Been a while since I looked at this one, but I remember it as being fairly well done. It provides a new baseclass built on the Druid framework, but using Int, with a custom spell list, and with mechanical creatures instead of animal companions.

- "Quintessential Gnome" by Mongoose: lots of details on non-magical tinkering and construction rules. Too much details and numbercrunching for my taste, and doesn't seem geared (no pun intended) to PC use.

- "Sorcery and Steam" by FFG: steampunk setting, lots of both magical and non-magical "steamcraft" inventions. A bit of a dissapointment, because it seems very poorly structured, and has *no* construction rules. Does have a few new base classes and PrCs that may be of interest. See this thread for some comments.

Note that there is also a steampunk/tinkering book (PDF?) coming out from ENPublishing fairly soon. "Steam & Steel: A Guide to Fantasy Steamworks,", written by ENWorlder Carnifex. Should be available within the month or so. More details over on the Sorcery and Steam thread I posted above.


Personally I'm using a Gnome Artificer, with a lot of leeway from my DM. Hoping to add some of the clockwork creatures from "Powerclasses: Artificer" or "Magic". For Alchemy, I've collected well over 200 different alchemical preparations from various published sources. (Most of them are fairly well balanced, but stay away from Bastion Press' "Alchemy & Herbalists"!)


Edit: also check out the Dave's Rather Eclectic Attempt at a Steampunk Setting thread. Includes a table of contents for Steam & Steel towards the end.