Pimp my Ultimate Magus! looking for help and advice

[macdaddy]

After much thought, I have decided to go for a Beguiler/Focused Specialist Conjurer/Ultimate Magus character. I am planning out the build and have a few open areas of uncertainty and am looking for suggestions for help.

Books I have access to
We are starting at 1st level, and have access to Core(PHB1&2, DMG1&2), Complete XXX(Arcane, mage, champion, etc al), and the Spell Compendium. NO dragon magazine, races of stone, races of the wild, tome of battle, guide to faerun, etc al.


Race: Human
Note: I would like to be a hafling, but due to the level difference between Beguiler and Wizard, this is not possible, as it would royally screw me on XP. Also, I think the bonus feat makes a BIG difference for the build.

Rolled Stats:
S:10  D:14  C:14 I:18 W:13 Chr:14

I placed the 14 into Charisma to get the most out of the social interaction skills of the Beguiler, though I would be more than willing to swap Wis and Chr if others thought it would be better that way.

skill selection
I plan on bypassing the trap disabling skills (we have a rouge) for Diplomacy, disguise, bluff, sense motive, spot, etc. By 3rd level, I should have:
Diplomacy: 4 + 4(synergy) + 2 = 10
Sense Motive: 5
Bluff: 5
Disguise: 5 + 2(synergy) + 2 = 9 + 10 from disguise spell  + 2 from kit = 21
Gather Information: 4 + 2(synergy) + 2 = 8

This will give me more opportunity for "role-playing", being a spy, getting information, plot hooks, etc al. Using hypnosis, diplomacy, bluff, and/or charm person in conjunction with the disguise should allow me to impersonate your aged halfling grandma mwuahahahaha. I think it fits along with the Beguiler class and even the conjurer, using indirect means to solve problems! Probably will only be used occasionally, but when I do, it should be spectacular.:smallcool:

After that, I will throw a couple into disguise on occasion (darn cross class double point expenditure) to help counter high spot rolls or later on when enemies can see through the disguise spell, while keeping my spellcraft, concentration, and knowledge(arcana) maxed. Get the skill trick for identifying monsters and put at least 1 point into each knowledge, preferably 5 in each over time. Once I get into ultimate magus, I will begin maxing UMD. I should be able to keep 4-5 other class skills maxed or 2-3 + 1 cross class beguiler skill(like disguise)

And no, I am not going to name my character pistachio disguisey. Still working on a name. 

Leveling Strategy:
1. Beguiler 1: Practiced Spell Caster(Beguiler), Extend Spell
2. Focused Specialist Conjurer 1 - Exclude Illusion, Enchantment, and Evocation. Class Variant Fighter Feats: Improved initiative
3. Focused Specialist Conjurer 2 Sculpt Spell
4. Focused Specialist Conjurer 3
5. Focused Specialist Conjurer 4
6. Ultimate Magus 1 Meta Magic School Focus(Conj)
7. Ultimate Magus 2
8. Ultimate Magus 3 class Feature: Augment Casting
9. Ultimate Magus 4 Split Ray
10. Ultimate Magus 5 Bonus MetaMagic Feat
11. Ultimate Magus 6
12. Ultimate Magus 7 Spell Focus(Conjuration)
13. Ultimate Magus 8
14. Ultimate Magus 9 Bonus MetaMagic Feat
15. Ultimate Magus 10 Spell Focus(Transmutation)
16. Master Specialist 1 Bonus Skill Focus(Spell Craft)
17. Arch Mage 1 Master Sculpter
18. Arch Mage 2 Open Feat
19. Arch Mage 3
20. Arch Mage 4 Spell like ability: Time Stop

I banned Illusion/Enchantment/Evocation. I should get decent access to illusion/charm spells from the beguiler class, especially once I hit 10th level and gain access to 2nd level beguiler spells. Sucks that I have to wait that long, but I can still use scrolls of illusion(if necessary) and parlay UMD into using wands/etc. I kept access to necromancy because it has some good ray debuffs that should work brilliantly with SplitRay.

I need a metamagic feat in order to take sculpt spell or split ray. So, I decided to take Extend spell. Its not great, but it is useful at lower levels (rope trick comes to mind as well as a few buff spells).

I did not take spellfocus(Conj) at 3rd level and Master Specialist at 5th level, because I felt that taking sculpt spell and metamagic school focus would be more powerful at lower levels. Besides, I don't really need 5 levels of ArchMage, 4 bonus abilities are plenty.

really need help with filling open feats
This leaves me with 2 open metamagic feats from ultimate mage, and an open feat at 18th level. I was a little unsure of what to take for these selections. Empower seems like it may be useful (empowered twinned ennervation? drop 8 levels please! boo yeah!), but it won't affect to many spells. Quicken spell seems like a good candidate, but Persistent spell doesn't (even if I choose a conj spell, that is still +5, and I will only have 4th level beguiler spells).

Any good suggestions for these feats? Perhaps I should move Split Rat to my open feat at 10th and take a non-metamagic feat?

Thanx in advance!

[Rebel7284]

I noticed that books you have access to don't list PHB2 where the beguiler is from.  Oversight?

Edit: as far as wanting Sculpt Spell earlier, lesser wand of sculpt spell is only 3000 GP.

[macdaddy]

I was assuming that PHB1&2, DMG 1&2 were core. I updated the description to reflect that I have access to those books.

[Aliek]

Well, they may not be halflings, but ain't there some gnome variant whose favored class was wizard?

[betrayor]

A good idea for your open feat would be practiced spellcaster (wizard) a +2 to your caster level would be nothing to sneeze at.....
Also arcane thesis for a your favourite conjuration spell so youj would be able to empower and split ray for free and boost your caster level even more....

[X-Codes]

I may get yelled at for this, but if you're playing with XP penalties then 2/3 is a perfectly acceptable entry into UM.  Yes, you'll lose an extra CL early, but without Versatile Spellcaster you're going to want 5th-level spells from Beguiler at some point, and in order to do so you'll need 3 levels of Arcane Progression for Beguiler aside from the 7 dual-progression levels that UM gives.  As it turns out, you can do this and still wind up with 9th-level spells at level 20.