Is there a reason to use steamsaws/steamguns on non tinkers?

[aodori]

sorry if this has been asked before
found myself wondering if there would be any benefit to this, and couldn't find a thread on it

im assuming that on archer and classes like it that the damage lost from lacking weapon mastery wouldn't make up for whatever benefits (would be pleasently suprised if not though!)
but i figure that steamsaws could provide a higher dps over shields, and am wondering if theirs any obvious downside to this im missing (having to have a steamgenerator attached asside which is probably the biggest one actually)

[Just a dood]

Shield classes like the proc dmg bonus on shields, which is probably more valuable to them than using steam saws. Other than that, the main weaknesses, as you said, are the lack of mastery and steam generator requirement.

[visage]

steam generator requirement.

FWIW, technically you don't need a steam generator to wield a saw. It just means that whenever you run out of steam you'll make unarmed attacks instead of steamsaw attacks. (I've actually taken advantage of this in adventurer builds...)