I understand what you are saying regarding a tinkering class, and it does
sound real cool. Will it happen? no, but still it would be
awesome. Imagine at the character creation screen, you select a gnome, and
the option for a tinkerer as the class is selectable. You pick that class,
then a name and religion. You start out with a tinkerer's toolbox, 5
breads, 5 waters, and a note to go see Tobon Starpyre (if you are a good
religion) or Meldrath the Mad (if you are an evil religion). At level one,
you get small clockwork rat plans. This gets 'learned' (memorized) into
your notebook (spellbook). You get the components of the rat (firewater,
Sprocket #6, Gizmo #4, 2 gears, bottle, and metal twine) and hit the
clockwork pet create button (spell button). If you fail (fizzle) you loose
some of the components, if not, you just created your level 1 pet. Now,
level 30 comes and you get the plans for a tinkered boom stick (metal
shaft, 3 gears, and a Sprocket #5) that uses ammo (level 30) created from
(firework, metal ball, and metal shaft). Maybe level 35 could be a double
barreled boom stick. Some devices would be class restrictive (like boom
stick where only tinkerer could use) others not (like rebreather where all
could use) This could be fun. Will it happen. No, not a chance. Darn it.

Atinky Eveready
50 Gnomish Rogue
Marginal and Bankrupt Tinkerer (110)
Bristlebane Server