Ultimate Magus worth it?

[olentu]

"When you gain access to a new level of spells, you automatically know all the spells for that level on the beguiler's spell list."

"You can use two spell slots of the same level to cast a spell you know that is one level higher."

If it didn't include a spell you know it would inadvertently allow any spontaneous caster to access every spell list in the game, this was not included as a condition of being able to use the feat. A Sorcerer with Heighten Spell can spend two 1st level spell slots to cast a 1st level spell heightened to 2nd level, even though he does not know any spells that are one level higher than the spell slots he's spending. Yet this use is possible according to WotC. Having this feat, and having two 1st level spell slots, is enough to give you access to 2nd level spells. Having access to 2nd level spells, and being capable of casting 2nd level spells, are two completely different things. Having access via this feat gives a beguiler knowledge of all 2nd level spells on his list, which then allows him to cast 2nd level spells. For a sorcerer, having access to 2nd level spells doesn't mean anything with regards to his spells known, so it does not give him the ability to cast 2nd level spells unless he has heighten spell.

That is a nice catch on the wording though, since you technically could cast a wizard spell you know using this feat with beguiler spell slots.

The sage and the FAQ are not the rules. I so dismiss the argument that a single class beguiler with only the ability to cast first level spells outside of versatile spellcaster would be able to cast second level spells with versatile spellcaster as not legal according to the rules unless actual rules evidence can be presented.

However since I can not see any prohibition for a wizard learning and scribing a spell of higher level then one could cast it is possible that a beguiler 1/wizard 1 with versatile spellcaster could cast second level spells. So after consideration of the specific case of a beguiler 1/wizard 1 trying to enter master specialist I withdraw my original supposition for this specific case assuming that the wizard learns a second level spell. Of course if anyone can give evidence counter to my reading of the wizard spell learning mechanics I would have to revert to my original position as I have not done an in depth study of the wizard spell learning mechanics.

But in general I hold to my position about the use of versatile spellcaster.

Edit: Actually considering the meaning of the word use it might be possible to use wizard spell slots as well as beguiler spell slots to power versatile spellcaster. But a more in depth consideration of that term would have to be undertaken.