| fae33w |
Nowhere in the archetype does it suggest that you invest mental focus into the "slot" and not "the item occupying the slot."
If anything, needing to have an item occupying the slot as a requirement suggests that it is "the item occupying the slot" that acts as your implement to be invested with mental focus. Furthermore, saying that the Silksworn does not choose "specific" objects, doesn't preclude them choosing objects to begin with, rather than slots.
It's also not the case that this was a deliberate choice for the Silksworn to not be able to use Panoplies. The Silksworn archetype actually PREDATES the introduction of Panoplies as alternatives to implements.
It's also not a balancing factor when you consider the existence of the Mage's Paraphernalia Panoply. That Panoply allows for the casting of spells on the sorcerer/wizard list, gives boosts to caster level, gives free variable metamagic, and even lets you cast those metamagic for free.
For all intents and purposes, Mage's Paraphernalia is a stronger caster than the Silksworn. Silksworn is simply more versatile due to having access to more spells. It is also legal to have both Mage's Paraphernalia AND Trappings of the Warrior on the base class. So I see no reason why a Silksworn with Trappings of the Warrior would be all that different.
Though I must admit that I would much prefer a Silksworn with the Mage's Paraphernalia Panoply instead. Performer's Accoutrements wouldn't be bad, either. Alas, I have yet to determine a way for those to work.
Im late to the show here, and it might break the balance if allowed....but what if you used shrink item (it can become cloth like.) and then wore it in the slot?