I wasn't trying to talk you out of Incantatrix, only opening up the discussion of the groups power level.
[spoiler]If LA buyoff is approved I'm considering Ghost 4(1-3 bought off)/XXX 5/Master Of Unseen Hand 3/Fiend of Possession 6.
If LA buyoff is not approved then Ardent X/Fiend of Possession 6? Maybe. I'm not sure.
the message here is that if we go evil, I want Fiend of Possession.
[/spoiler]
I'd like to try Swiftblade Arcane Swordsage. @DM, if your willing to consider it, I'll draw up hard rules for it. From the hip, I'd avoid anything that breaks the game if used at will, like Charms, Time Stop, Summons, or Conjurations. I'd avoid BFC, maneuvers would all be direct damage. Stances would be buffs. Counters/boosts would be either nerfed swift/immediate spells or maneuvers as written.
Examples of spells I'd use:
[spoiler]Bloodwing,Treacherous Weapon
Seeking Ray, Scorching Ray, Heroics
Ray of the Python, Dispel Magic, Haste
Resilient Sphere, Enervation, Dimension Door
Spell Theft, Shadow Evocation, Streamers, Storm Touch
Greater Dispel
Grasping Hand[/spoiler]
I can also scale my character to the party's power level fairly well by spell choice. Like if everyone goes metamagic reducing full casters, I'd learn Polymorph stance. Things like that.