I love sneaky magic users; I think I know every conventional variant: Beguiler, Unseen Seer, Arcane Trickster, Warlock (sort of), Bard. Bards are the easiest, and often the best (they keep getting beefed up), but I've never been able to like the musical aspect of the Bard; I've never wanted to imagine my character going into battle to sing at his allies. 3e splatbooks, Pathfinder, 4e, they all give Bards fantastic toys to play with and I don't know why I can't get past the flavor text to be able to use them.