Master of Illusion

[Acanous]

So I've been playing a Master Illusionist in an open-world-Faerun campeign for the last while. He's about to hit lv 11, and I'm becomming more aware of how little build time is left to qualify for my next PrC.

His concept is pretty fun, Human L/E Illusionist who'se trying to be the best dang illusionist to ever walk Faerun, while running a cross between a floating mage guild and travelling show.

With my feats taken up by cohort improvement and leadership modification, there's not much room to qualify for the standard "Archmage" or slightly more nefarious "Red Wizard", so I've been looking through the more Illusion-focused PrC's to get something that fits his flavour without gimping him.

I've come up with two choices:
Shadowcrafter (Page 43, Underdark)
or
Nightmare Spinner (Page 74, Complete Mage)

Both of them put more focus on Illusion subschools, with Shadowcrafter going for (Shadow) subschool, and Nightmare Spinner going with (Figment) and (Glamer).

So the question here is, should I go Shadowcrafter to cover the gaps Illusion usually has (Like constructs, undead, plants)-
or go Nightmare Spinner for the bonus spells and abilities that make my wizard even better at what he already does?

Either way, this PrC wouldn't be picked up until lv 14- I meet all prereq's except for skill points, which I can meet either of by 13, when Master Specialist caps. This game is propably not going into Epic, and really if it did I'd propably retire the character anyhow.

So, thoughts? Suggestions? Possible other choices I've overlooked?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

He'll never be the best illusionist without Shadowcraft Mage from Races of Stone, but only gnomes can qualify.

Have you looked at Master Specialist in Complete Mage?

[Acanous]

Yep. That's what I've been doing since level 4, and I really love it. I can't wait for 13, when all illusion spells get to be stilled and silent without raising the slot level.

Sadly the character isn't a gnome, but I can be a Shadowcrafter >.>
Just not a shadowcraft mage.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Yep. That's what I've been doing since level 4, and I really love it. I can't wait for 13, when all illusion spells get to be stilled and silent without raising the slot level.

Sadly the character isn't a gnome, but I can be a Shadowcrafter >.>
Just not a shadowcraft mage.

No, three of your illusions per day can be stilled and silent without raising the slot level. Read the major school esoterica class feature again, not just the illusion benefit.

See about going into Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil in Complete Arcane. It requires Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus: Abjuration, but there are several ways to switch existing feats to ones you need. You could hire an NPC Psion to manifest Psychic Reformation on you, you could retrain as given in PH2, or you could use the Chaos Shuffle whether by casting it yourself or hiring an NPC spellcaster to do it. Incantatrix is also a strong choice for any spellcaster.

[Acanous]

Incantatrix looks pretty cool, but the cooperative spellcasting looks a little useless for this char. Would be great for a cohort if I can find someone to train them in it... I'll have to take a closer look at it.

While Sevenfold Veil is pretty sweet, I've done it before and it doesn't fit this char's illusion theme.

Retraining out of my leadership feats would be a little problematic for story reasons. I do have Lv 12 to grab, but the rest of my feats are pretty locked-in. (Class prereqs and leadership).

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Incantatrix 3 is where it's at, and not much reason to not get the 4th level too. Cast a personal or set range buff, then use metamagic effect to make it persistent for a spellcraft check. You'll have all-day Shield, Swift Expeditious Retreat, Swift Fly, Death Armor, Dragonsight, Ray Deflection, and Superior Invisibility for no increase in caster level.