Shadowcrafting Help?

[Alistaroc]

Is there a way to qualify for either Shadowcrafter or Shadowcraft Mage with 4 levels of base classes? And if not, what is the earliest one can be taken? I'm trying to stuff Shadowcrafter 5/Shadowcraft Mage 7 into a level 16 build if possible, or as soon as possible.

[Flickerdart]

Beguiler 4 with Versatile Spellcaster and Sanctum Spell can cast Legion of Sentinels (normally a 3rd level spell, treated as 4th when in your sanctum). The same trick without Sanctum Spell gets you into Shadowcrafter.

[OldTrees1]

Shadowcrafter has the lower requirements of 4 ranks, 2 feats, and 1 3rd level shadow spell.

Since 3rd level spells under 5th is breaking a solid RAI convention, you would need to use one of the unintended early entry tricks. This would place you at 3rd(prepared) or 4th(spontaneous).

Without early entry tricks it would be 5th(prepared) or 6th(spontaneous)

PS: Shadowcraft Mage is the 5 level class, so you meant Shadowcrafter 7 /Shadowcraft Mage 5

[Alistaroc]

Beguiler 4 with Versatile Spellcaster and Sanctum Spell can cast Legion of Sentinels (normally a 3rd level spell, treated as 4th when in your sanctum). The same trick without Sanctum Spell gets you into Shadowcrafter.
Praise Flickerdart! Would some Earth Spell trick work for this as well?

[Flickerdart]

Yes. A 3rd level wizard or 4th level sorcerer can use an Earth Spell claws of darkness, dark way, shadow radiance, shadow spray, or wall of gloom - all 2nd level illusion (shadow) spells that you can then boost to 4th level by heightening with Earth Spell. How you get the 3rd level slot to heighten them (or alternatively, a -1 reduction for Heighten) is up to you, though Versatile Spellcaster works on the sorcerer example.

[Necroticplague]

Precocious Apprentice (Wall of Gloom)+any metamagic+ Eldritch Corruption+Spell Focus gets you the spell requirement at level 1. Only problem is getting that many feats. Taint provides you with a bonus feat (and is required for Eldritch Corruption). Slightly more advanced taint can get you another feat. The Adaption section allows for Human Shadowcraft mage, netting you a third bonus feat. Along with the normal 1st level one, that should provide you with the 4 feats you need at level one, letting you enter Shadowcraft Mage at level 2 as a beguiler (who would know 5 illusions, with Heightened (via Eldritch Corruption) Wall of Gloom being their 4th level shadow spell).

EDIT: This refers to entering Shadowcraft Mage first. Pick Up Greater Spell Focus while you're leveling in SCM, and you qualify for Shadowcrafter.