Shackled City character

[nightshade]

Hi all,
long time lurker third time poster.
Some friends and I want to start the Shackled City Campaign soon and I need some advice for my
character. We are a 2 man group only, so we are trying to optimize our chars to get through there
somehow. Is it even possible or is it a vain endeavor to run the campaign with
only 2 persons + DM ?

We want to play kind of sneaky characters so we decided it would be best if
we create gishes.

Here is what I came up with

progression up to 10th level

Illumian aeshkrau

1 cloistered Cleric
2 Beguiler
3 Beguiler
4 Beguiler
5 Beguiler
6 Unseen Seer
7 Unseen Seer
8 Swiftblade
9 Swiftblade
10Swiftblade

str 16 + level ups
dex 11
con 14
int 14
wis 11
cha 10

feats
1    Knowledge Devotion(cleric), Travel Devotion(cleric),
   Able learner(1st), dodge(flaw), mobility(flaw)
3    Versatile Spellcaster
6   Power Attack
9   Arcane Strike

I know that I probably want to much with just one character, but since these are the Min/Max
forums I thought you can help me somehow. I'm open to fairly everything, so it would help a lot if you make recommendations
to help our chars and help me improve my (probably not so good) build.

Forgot to mention that all books are allowed.

Best,

Nighti

I'm not a native speaker so please excuse errors  

[ImmortalSoul]

Ask your DM for Gestalt?

[Waazraath]

Mhhh.... I DM'd shackled city with 6-7 players and had regular casualties... most of them weren't optimized, but still think only 2 characters is rather ambitious, it's just to easy to get a tpk with just a little bad luck. My first advice would be to find some extra players   If not possible, check if you can lure your DM in using gestalt, use a higher point buy / rolling method for character creation, more starting equip or other free goodies (more feats/stat point increases), cause it'll be a hell of an endeavour.

On the content of the build: getting into unseen seer without a source of sneak attack damage won't give you sneak attack I think (the +1d6 from US only increases the value your character already has), that's a bit of a shame. Further, in my experience beguiler has little options against the type of foes that are immune to mind affecting stuff... with only 1 other character, such encounters will be rather difficult.

[jameswilliamogle]

Binder.  Maximize charisma.  Bind Naberius.  Use the Disguise Self continuously.  Bluff/Diplomance your way into everything.

When you know you have to face something, Bind Savnok, and have that armor up.

[rasmuswagner]

As I recall Shackled City, Beguiler casting will be just fine.

[nightshade]

So, I just phoned with the DM and he is okay with Gestalt, that changes a lot.
I appreciate the comments so far, great forums.

I tried to come up with a Gestalt character, level 10 again

how do you like this Skirmish Blade?
Scout 3/Ranger 7//Wizard 5/Swiftblade 5

I'll try to pick up Swift Hunter and Arcane Strike as soon as possible.What I'd love to know is if I should go the Power Attack route or the TWF route.

Does Cloistered Cleric fit in there somewhere for the travel and knowledge devotion?

Human or another race?

Damn a lot of new Questions..