I figured it out.
The bootstrap was just fine, but the options that display in the UI are set up inside the usrArray. I have no idea how you're supposed to edit that in the HL editor -- I figured it out by opening up the .user file in a text editor and reading the XML. Once I added this line:
Code:
<arrayval field="usrArray" index="8" value="Shovel"/>
... the option appeared in the drop down and worked. I was able to change the form to a shovel. I also set up the Improvised weapon quality to require the same selection on the drop-down, so it only counts as improvised when it's a shovel.
Finally, the magic sauce to get rid of the error saying that improvised weapons can't be magical/masterwork, I added an eval script on the item that runs at First/10000 and says this:
Code:
perform hero.assign[Custom.MagImprov]
That's cribbed from the Monk of the Empty Hand archetype courtesy of an old post by Matthias, and it makes me very happy that that error won't be blaring in my face any longer.
So it all works now. Yay!