If the idea is that the same weapon is both the Barrow's Edge Ikon and the Gleaming Blade Ikon so that when you Spark Transcendence for one of them then the Immanence moves to the other Ikon of the same weapon - and since it is the same weapon that is both Ikons then the Immanence is still in both Ikons at the same time ... then you can Spark Transcendence of the same Ikon repeatedly without needing to Shift Immanence...
Then, no.
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The cautious ruling would be that two weapon Ikons could only be in two different weapon items.
I could see GMs being a bit more permissive that the same item could hold multiple Ikons - separately. They would still be separate Ikons. Meaning that they would be powered by the Spark separately.
When the Spark isn't powering an Ikon, its Immanence is inactive.
I don't think there's a problem with a physical object being two ikons at once, but you can still only have one immanence at a time. You could just pick three body ikons, but your spark would only be in one of them at a time.
So if you took both gleaming blade and barrow's edge, if you had your spark in gleaming blade you would have that immanence and if you transcended you could switch your spark to Barrow's edge (to have zero downtime on your weapon immanence, for e.g.).
It's probably better to keep your spark in a weapon ikon during your turn, then move it to a defensive/buffing ikon when it's not your turn, then move it back on your turn. Like Barrow's Edge into Scar of the Survivor and Back is a lot of self-healing in two turns; Or Unfailing Bow into Gaze Sharp as Steel and back would work well.
I think it does not matter of multiple Icons are in the same item/body part as long as it fullfills the requirements
but I am reasonably sure they will never have immanence stack
Just from reading Shift Immanence from Pathbuilder I am seeing the following:
That ikon ... is empowered in a way that matches your growing divinity, granting the ikon the divine trait and granting you that ikon's immanence effects for as long as your divine spark is empowering it. Your spark is indivisible, so it can empower only one ikon at a time.
So it seems pretty iron-clad that you can only have one Immanence effect active at once.
Even if it is allowed to put two or more ikons into the same item, you could only power one ikon in there at a time.
My fist is a different body part than my foot.
The ruby on the pommel of my sword is not my sword.
:P
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Hands of the Wilding can also be on a bite or on one gauntlet (but not both). And I do think that if one cannot put two Ikons on one weapon that you'd need two different unarmed attacks for two Ikons to go on separately. That if seems reasonable because yes, it is more powerful to have two Ikons in one weapon compared to the alternatives. Imbuing a single weapon would be a no-brainer option overshadowing other builds.
That not good evidence against it, since it's hard to deduce what power-level Paizo intended. The class remains competitive either way. But the basic reading would suggest Paizo means one Ikon per item. It's likely they didn't even see such wiggle room (as they strive for everyday language not legalese).
So yeah, errata might need to clarify this.
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Adjacent to that, could one choose the same Ikon twice, but for different items? I'd like to do this, but it too has advantages that may not be intended and it doesn't fit the presentation of Ikons as written. Hmm.
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[...] Adjacent to that, could one choose the same Ikon twice, but for different items? [...]
The answer around our table was a resounding "no." Our rationale is that the apparent idea is that there is an intentional built-in tradeoff. Transcendence is supposed to turn off the Immanence. Bouncing between two items, each with the same Ikon, to be able to get the Transcendence and keep the Immanence without paying the action cost of transcending/shifting, reeks of cheese-monkey shenanigans.
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[...] Adjacent to that, could one choose the same Ikon twice, but for different items? [...]The answer around our table was a resounding "no." Our rationale is that the apparent idea is that there is an intentional built-in tradeoff. Transcendence is supposed to turn off the Immanence. Bouncing between two items, each with the same Ikon, to be able to get the Transcendence and keep the Immanence without paying the action cost of transcending/shifting, reeks of cheese-monkey shenanigans.
Doing this would mean you get both Immanence and Transcendence but for only a single Ikon ever.
Not sure it would make this Exemplar OP.
I feel the greatest benefit would be to use the Transcendence several times in the same turn.
Looking at the Ikons, only 2 would actually grant something beyond using the Transcendence only once:
Scar of the Survivor would heal 1d8 HPs by action spent. Which is good but hardly game-breaking IMO.
Mortal Harvest could grant you 3 Strikes at zero MAP. Which is definitely OP. But it would need the GM to agree that the Transcendence reference to a Strike made with Mortal Harvest counts for the ability even if the Ikon was on another object. Highly doubtful IMO.
[...] Doing this would mean you get both Immanence and Transcendence but for only a single Ikon ever[...]
First, most discussions, and table experience, as been that Exemplars build around a Primary/Secondary Ikon rotation with the third Ikon being mostly filler and/or occasional utility (Tertiary). So, limiting oneself to two different Ikons isn't much of a handicap.
But, as I said, our table ruled "no" because the apparent intent is that sparking an Ikon's Transcendence is supposed to turn off its Immanence, forcing the player to decide between keeping an Ikon's Immanence ability or sparking Transcendence.
Additionally, assuming all three Ikons are different, you can spend an action or two to Spark Transcendence, thus losing the Immanence effect. If you want the Immanence effect back, you must then spend an action to Shift Immanence (or wait until the next round to Spark Immanence and move your spark to the original Ikon).
Choosing the same Ikon twice, to bounce your spark between them thus keeping the Immanence and sparking Transcendence, bypassing the Shift Immanence action tax, we determined for our table, violates the spirit of the Class.
[...] I feel the greatest benefit would be to use the Transcendence several times in the same turn[...]
"You can Spark Transcendence only once each round."
[...] Looking at the Ikons, only 2 would actually grant something beyond using the Transcendence only once:[...]
Your analysis is negated by the fact that your premise is incorrect. You can only Spark Transcendence once per round.
What you're missing is that duplicating Ikons leads to shenanigans. Just some examples:
Barrow's Edge: You effectively keep the bonus damage and Drink of My Foes every round instead of every other round (without spending the action tax to Shift Immanence).
Fetching Bangles: On a "tank," foes in your aura never get an opportunity to try to move away without a Will Save because the Immanence, effectively, never goes down and every round you can pull an enemy to you (without spending the action tax to Shift Immanence).
Mortal Harvest: You effectively keep persistent damage rider and can, for one action, Reap the Field (half-speed stride + strike) every round (without spending the action tax to Shift Immanence).
Shadow Sheath: Would allow two different thrown weapons with different runes, talismans, or activations to be "loaded." The free-action draw and additional damage are effectively never "off," and (almost) every unsuccessful attack is turned into Liar's Hidden Blade (without spending the action tax to Shift Immanence).
Skin Hard as Horn: The granted resistance is never down and, nearly every turn, is equal to your level (Crash Against Me) with additional riders (without spending the action tax to Shift Immanence).
Thousand League Sandals: The first Stride of any turn is a Marathon Dash (without spending the action tax to Shift Immanence).
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I knew I likely stood to be corrected by people who knew Exemplar better than I did. Completely forgot about the once per turn max immanence thing.
But looking at each Ikon, I did not feel getting both the Immanence and Transcendence together was that OP, considering you do not get to benefit from another Ikon's Immanence or Transcendence.
And many of the Immanence effects for weapon Ikons are already similar (bonus Spirit damage), so that you can already benefit from both Immanence and Transcendence by getting 2 different weapon Ikons, for example a Gleaming Blade and a Noble Branch.
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[...] But looking at each Ikon, I did not feel getting both the Immanence and Transcendence together was that OP[...]
That's fine. I simply shared the rationale our table has for barring Ikon duplication and it has very little nothing to do with power level and much to do with "the spirit of the class."
But looking at each Ikon, I did not feel getting both the Immanence and Transcendence together was that OP, considering you do not get to benefit from another Ikon's Immanence or Transcendence.
And many of the Immanence effects for weapon Ikons are already similar (bonus Spirit damage), so that you can already benefit from both Immanence and Transcendence by getting 2 different weapon Ikons, for example a Gleaming Blade and a Noble Branch.
It's already simple to get your immanence for your weapon ikon every time you make an attack. Just spark transcendance with your weapon and move your spark into a second ikon that the transcendance condition is simple/beneficial (Gaze Sharp as Steel for example) then you spark transcendence at the start of your turn and move your spark back to your weapon.
The only benefit I can see of having two ikons in the same weapon (aside from having a combination weapon, which seems a legitimate reason to have both a ranged and melee ikon) is to set up "I am sparking transcendence on my weapon every turn" when that just doesn't seem like that strong a strategy, since most of them have reasons you wouldn't want to use them (e.g. you're full on HP, allies would get caught in the AoE, you're only fighting a single enemy, you miss, etc.)