Complete Illusionist

[Zombieboots]

I am starting a game this week and have been wanting to play an illusionist for the longest time. So here is my crack at it.

The only books allowed are the three Core and the Complete series. I am edging my DM to allow me to take Shadowcraft Mage, he has approved Earth Sense & Spell, and thankfully the Gnome Illusionist Sub levels from Races of Stone but that is all outside of the already mentioned books. We start at level 7, normal starting wealth etc, and a "Low Magic World"

The Build I am toying with is rather simple but I would like some input
Gnome Illusionist 3/ Master Specialist 4; Spell Focus (1), Heighten Spell (3), Earth Sense (6)

Hopefully Shadowcraft Mage will be levels 8-10 and Earth Spell at 9th level.

Alternately I am up in the air about taking the fifth level of Gnome Illusionist instead of  Master Specialist because the Extended Illusions ability does sound rather tasty.

Lastly I just Browsed through all the complete book and found nothing to help my Illusion DCs I hope the restriction on books will not be an issue.

[Alastar]

Spell focus (illusion)
Greater SPell focus (illusion)
Gnome

That's +3 to your DC right there!! All core!!  (not to be mistaken with Al Gore)

The only other feat non core i can think of that would boost your DC's is shadow weave magic, for a +1 dc to illusion, necromancy and enchantment, and -1 to conjuration evocation and abjuration ( i think) But that's in faerun, player's guide to faerun to be more precise.

Minor school esoterica from master specialist gives you +2 to the dc's of any illusion spell with an entry of ''will save to disbelieve''.

I think at least... i'm AFB at this moment.

[Paradox]

Something I've always wanted to try with a ScM is taking the last 5 levels as Archmage and filling up by using the Spell Like Ability High Arcana to stock up on Metamagic'd Images.  I would devote 3 arcana's to it, and then going for reach and shaping.

[woodenbandman]

Does anything really preclude you from creating a metamagic'd spell with a normal heightened silent image as a shadowcraft mage?

[Paradox]

Like using a level 5 silent image to simulate an empowered fireball?

[Zombieboots]

Spell focus (illusion)
Greater SPell focus (illusion)
Gnome

That's +3 to your DC right there!! All core!!  (not to be mistaken with Al Gore)

I suppose I can take that as no 'real' further improvements needed?

[Akalsaris]

I think you're pretty set Zombie. 

I'd go with forest gnome from the MM, it has some tiny mechanical advantages over a normal gnome:
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Gnomes,_Forest_(Race)

Strongly consider focused specialist from C. Mage.

I would also stick with illus 3/m. spec. 4 - I think the DC boost from greater spell focus and minor esoterica outweighs free extend spell, especially since shadowcraft mages later get a free extend anyhow. 

Illus 3/M. Spec. 4/Shadowcraft Mage 5/M. Spec. +3/Archmage 5 is probably as good a build as you'll get with the book restrictions.

Other good feats to consider from those sources: Metamagic Specialist, Dazzling Illusion, Metamagic Vigor, Quicken Spell, Still Spell (Hey, you already get silent...). 

[Endarire]

I advise against a focused specialist if you're taking Gnome Illusionist.  You're already down 2 schools and have -1CL for Evocation.

[Paradox]

When would he be using evocation anyway?

[Zombieboots]

When would he be using evocation anyway?

Every time I cast Shadow Evocation.