Inventor created barricade buster but weapon inventors cannot use it?

Because barricade buster is an advanced weapon

Inventor's who take weapon invention cannot use it even with orc weapon familiarity by the wording in the inventor class

Given how much they mess with traits, I'm surprised they don't have a level 1 feat to give them advanced weapon access...

This could be the case of lower case inventor. Basically there are people who invent things...that are not the class Inventor. Like how you can be a hunter in 1e without your class being a Hunter.

This is actually why I don't really stick to the concepts of classes in rpgs. There names can sometimes be clunky to use in setting, and if they aren't clunky they usually have a mundane version of the name.

Yeah it is bizarre. Another annoying thing is the stat requirements. 14 strength for kickback means you can't get 16 dexterity and 18 intelligence. Not the end of the world, but it does feel bad. Oh, and Volley really calls for point blank shot, which you can't get until level 4. So at level 1 the fighter is a much better choice for the weapon.

Now, to be fair, getting to extend the range of the weapon with later modifications would be pretty great. Even at low levels, turning a 3 bulk weapon into a light bulk concealable is cool, and adding modular damage types is handy as well. And overdrive damage would be a really good boost for it. I think it might become the new meta for ranged inventors if it worked.

But I'd rather finally have a gun that works better for inventors than a short bow. :(

Comes back to the discussion around advanced weapons in general. They're in a sad state.

Yeah it is bizarre. Another annoying thing is the stat requirements. 14 strength for kickback means you can't get 16 dexterity and 18 intelligence. Not the end of the world, but it does feel bad. Oh, and Volley really calls for point blank shot, which you can't get until level 4. So at level 1 the fighter is a much better choice for the weapon.

Now, to be fair, getting to extend the range of the weapon with later modifications would be pretty great. Even at low levels, turning a 3 bulk weapon into a light bulk concealable is cool, and adding modular damage types is handy as well. And overdrive damage would be a really good boost for it. I think it might become the new meta for ranged inventors if it worked.

But I'd rather finally have a gun that works better for inventors than a short bow. :(

Now Ranger's are also a good choice, since they ignore the second range increment's penalty. SO orc and humans rangers are pretty good I must say

This could be the case of lower case inventor. Basically there are people who invent things...that are not the class Inventor. Like how you can be a hunter in 1e without your class being a Hunter.

It could be a gunslinger with the multiclassed inventor archetype; which, IMO, is a very mechanically viable route to go.

Granted, you don't get as much in the way of weapon modifications and other inventor class stuff. However, the character is better at attacking with the barricade buster and can leverage Munitions Crafter, Brilliant Crafter, and Munitions Machinist to prepare (at 8th level) a magazine of alchemical ammunition (elemental ammunition or freeze ammunition look nice) as part of their daily preparations for an "inventor-like" feel.

But I'd rather finally have a gun that works better for inventors than a short bow. :(

Piercing wind makes a nice gun choice as a weapon innovation for an inventor. Reloading is a bit of a pain, but Clockwork Celerity can help somewhat (and/or Gunslinger Dedication with Basic Shooting [Risky Reload] and Advanced Shooting [Running Reload]).

For a non-gun weapon innovation, Treasure Vault has some additional interesting options. Maybe a crescent cross for example, with the Segmented Frame, Integrated Gauntlet, and Blunt Shot (from Manifold Modifications) modifications; possibly with a gauntlet buckler on the other hand. Or a bow staff or mikazuki; especially if if you want to multiclass in monk (flurry with your weapon innovation at 10th level).

The bow staff is pretty nifty for weapon inventors.