Beguiler vs Unseen seer

[Ethernil]

As per the title, beguiler or spell thief wizard unseen seer makes for a better skill monkey in a game with a strict dm with low magic item availability for a campaign that goes from lvl 1 to probably low epic.

[Dagroth]

As per the title, beguiler or spell thief wizard unseen seer makes for a better skill monkey in a game with a strict dm with low magic item availability for a campaign that goes from lvl 1 to probably low epic.

Unseen Seer would probably be better in combat thanks to sneak attack & actual damaging spells...

Of course, a Wizard loses a lot of their potential power in a game where there aren't many spell books or scrolls to increase his spells known.

The Unseen Seer would probably be better at fighting other spellcasters, too.

However, the Beguiler is going to be better in non-combat situations... yet will probably end up with fewer skill-points barring really good rolls or high point buy.

[Eldariel]

Rogue 1/Wizard 4/Unseen Seer 10 is generally stronger if played well. Unseen Seer has access to Divine Insight + Guidance of the Avatar which is huge skill-wise, and of course Wizard-list is way, way stronger than Beguiler list to start with. Skill point-wise, they're similar with Beguiler being 8 skill points ahead total (First 5 levels have Rogue get 4x8, Wizard 4x2 while Beguiler 8x6), while missing some class skills. Ultimately Wizard-list is the thing that sets them apart. Though losing a caster level and being forced to take Practiced Spellcaster is something in favour of the Beguiler. The greatest advantage of the Beguiler is not having to pick spells making them very easy to play comparatively.

[Stealth Marmot]

A good question is: What sorts of skills are you going to be most expected to have or use?

I once played a skill monkey Unseen Seer in a game and let me suggest, make them human.

Take the feat "Able Learner" and your first level in rogue. You will only be able to put 2 points into some skills you will want later, but you will be able to have a HUGE selection and points in so many different things. Once you take a level in wizard (I suggest doing 4 levels in wizard after the 1 level in rogue) you will essentially have 95% of skills as class skills. Not only that, but you will only be a single level (and a feat) behind a full spellcaster.

Now an Unseen Seer takes a hit in spell caster levels during level up, but if you take the Practiced Spellcaster Feat at level 3, you will always have a caster level equal to your character level.

You also gain a familiar, which notably will have all of your skill ranks, even if it doesn't gain the other familiar benefits past 4th level, along with the Scribe Scroll feat which is nice.

Divine Insight is the real reason to be an Unseen Seer. You gain the ability to take that as an arcane spell at 7th level, and when cast, it allows you to get a +12 on a skill check when you need it, and it's only a 2nd level spell. Considering your insane skill points to begin with, you can become obnoxiously good at skills. In fact, so long as you have at least enough ranks to be "trained" in a skill (if necessary) that +12 is enough to make you effectively fully trained in any skill at a whim without any more than 1 rank in it. In a skill you have full ranks in, you will be pulling near epic level checks.

If you want to drive your DM mad, pick up Craft (alchemy) and destroy their economy. 7th level, 10 ranks, at least +3 int, +2 masterwork tools, +12 Divine Insight, +27 to check minimum.

[Dagroth]

Rogue 1/Wizard 4/Unseen Seer 10 is generally stronger if played well. Unseen Seer has access to Divine Insight + Guidance of the Avatar which is huge skill-wise, and of course Wizard-list is way, way stronger than Beguiler list to start with. Skill point-wise, they're similar with Beguiler being 8 skill points ahead total (First 5 levels have Rogue get 4x8, Wizard 4x2 while Beguiler 8x6), while missing some class skills. Ultimately Wizard-list is the thing that sets them apart. Though losing a caster level and being forced to take Practiced Spellcaster is something in favour of the Beguiler. The greatest advantage of the Beguiler is not having to pick spells making them very easy to play comparatively.

The only issue I have with this idea that the Beguiler will have more skill points is...

Beguiler's casting stat is Cha, so he's going to have that as his highest stat.
Wizard's casting stat is Int, so he's going to have that as his highest stat.

This means that 2+Int skills per level is probably going to be 6 per level and his Rogue level will be 4x12.

So that means 48 at first level and 24 for the next 4 levels which is 72 skill points.

Beguiler will probably have a 12 Int, maybe a 14.

This means 8x8 skill points (for 14 Int) which is 64 skill points.

[Deophaun]

Beguiler's casting stat is Cha, so he's going to have that as his highest stat.
Beguiler's casting stat is Int:

To cast a beguiler spell, you must have an Intelligence score of 10 + the spell’s level (Int 10 for 0-level spells, Int 11 for 1st-level spells, and so forth). The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a beguiler’s spell is 10 + the spell’s level + the beguiler’s Int modifier.

[Dagroth]

Beguiler's casting stat is Int:

Oh...

Never played one. Thought they would be Cha like every other spontaneous base-class caster.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Beguiler (with a Mindbender dip) would be my choice, especially if you can use Magical Training + Versatile Spellcaster to basically get access to the entire Wizard spell list. Or use Arcane Disciple + Heighten Spell to spam a choice reserve feat if you need damage output, and combine that with Versatile Spellcaster to further boost your reserve feat and get early access to the next higher level of Beguiler spells.

[Fouredged Sword]

If you want sneak attack - Beguiler / Unseen Seer is a valid option.