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Shields can technically be used for weapon innovation because of this, "A shield can be used as a martial weapon for attacks, using the statistics listed for a shield bash on Table 6–7: Melee Weapons (page 280). The shield bash is an option only for shields that weren’t designed to be used as weapons. A shield can’t have runes added to it. You can also buy and attach a shield boss or shield spikes to a shield to make it a more practical weapon. These can be found on Table 6–7. These work like other weapons and can even be etched with runes."

Love the idea and hope you are right. I could also see that the 'weapon' (as what you apply the runes to) are either shield spikes or shield boss. Text about shield bash

"A shield bash is not actually a weapon, but a maneuver in which you thrust or swing your shield to hit your foe with an impromptu attack."
So I could see a dilemma. Either way, even if that is true, while I don't think you'd get away from lightening the tower shield, I think everything else works. What comes to my mind is a shield with holes that mechanically change out rotating Buzzsaws, spikes, and charging pistons. Still thin integrates gauntlet would make a mechanic from those clasp on to you from the grip.

I would have to disagree because of this, "A shield can be used as a martial weapon for attacks, using the statistics listed for a shield bash on Table 6–7: Melee Weapons (page 280). The shield bash is an option only for shields that weren’t designed to be used as weapons. A shield can’t have runes added to it. You can also buy and attach a shield boss or shield spikes to a shield to make it a more practical weapon. These can be found on Table 6–7. These work like other weapons and can even be etched with runes." <- pg 277 CRB

So Inventor adds a couple of options to weapons that allow damage die increases for any simple or martial weapon (2 increases for simple weapons.) With that in mind, I wanted to ask the community, what do you think this does to the blowgun's damage?
In 1e, I would just say to make the damage a d2 but both d2s and d3s aren't really used in 2e so I'm left confused about how to approach this. It doesn't help that the rules about die steps in the CRB starts at d4s and doesn't go any lower. Thoughts?

So shields are counted as weapons for the purposes of making attacks. With this in mind, I've made a post here talking about using them as your weapon innovation. At level 1, you can get an interesting innovation called Segmented Frame. Not only does this allow you to change a shield's damage type at will (at the cost of an action,) you can also spend an action to turn it to L Bulk and give it the concealed trait. Now imagine, having a huge tower shield that has 4 Bulk getting reduced to L Bulk as an action. It's crazy!
Another innovation that caught my eye was Integrated Gauntlet. This fuses your weapon to a gauntlet and gives the weapon the Free-Hand trait. So now you have a tower shield fused into your FIST that can shrink into said fist at will. I just love how Inventor encourages you to come up with the craziest ideas possible and rewards you for it.
Ok, I've given my 5 cents to the community. Cheers folks!