Illusionist PrC's?

[gallagher]

hey, are there any useful illusionist PrC's? i know archmage and red wizard are both solid choices, but what about specific prestige classes?

i have been asked why i liked illusion magic so much. i responded with somethign along the lines of "most casters enjoy changing the battle field. upon a failed wills save, i LITERALLY change the battle field." fighters have a pretty hard time getting to me if i do my job right

[arguskos]

Nightmare Spinner, from Complete Mage is one. So is Shadowcraft Mage, from like Races of Stone I think? Both are solid, with Shadowcraft being crazy powerful and Nightmare Spinner being pretty good.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Master specialist
Shadowcraft gnome (make your illlusiones REAL)
possibly nightmare spiner

I know I am gona get ninja'ed

Edit: HA I knew it

[Tohron]

Shadowcraft Mage. It's from Races of Stone - it requires you to be a gnome (although I believe it says the DM can agree to a re-fluffed version without that requirement), but the ways you can take advantage of the class are awesome. Here's a guide on how to use them optimally: http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=5638.0. Enjoy!

[Gensh]

Shadowcraft Mage + Shadowcrafter
Technically not redundant and makes your illusions really real.

[HCL]

Anima mage (Tome of Magic) is useful for any type of wizard, full binding advancement and you can "exploit" your less important vestiges for metamagic boosts and stuff.

[Eldariel]

Shadowcrafter and Shadow Adept from Underdark and Player's Guide to Faerun respectively are both fine. In fact, the best non-Incantatrix Shadowcraft Mage is Shadowcrafter 9/Shadow Adept 1/Shadowcraft Mage 5.

[Optimystik]

Dread Witch (Heroes of Horror). Hit yourself with your own [Fear] Illusions and disbelieve them, to instantly gain +3 CL on all your spells. Then make all your targeted visual spells scary (e.g. add [Fear] to Color Spray.) Combine the two abilities and you can make almost any visual illusion give you a CL boost.

Master Specialist (Complete Mage) - First you get +2 to all your DCs. Then you gain permanent concealment. Then you gain Still Spell, Silent Spell and Eschew Materials, completely free; all your illusion spells become mentally activated.