Optimizing Adept?

I'd curious how well you could make an Adept in PF. They were better than some PC classes in 3.5, though most of their tricks were nerfbated.

My basic idea is

Race: Samsaran (Mystic Past Life). Max wisdom (you need bonus spells as well as saves), 12 int and rest in dex to ensure you go first

Traits: +2 initiative/whatever
Feats
1: Spell Focus: Enchantment/Necromancy
3: Spell Focus: Illusion
5: Sahir-Afiyun
(6: Start taking Veiled Illusionist levels)
7: Improved Initiative

MPL recommendations: level 3 is pretty empty even with your drug spells

Tactics: Before you get 2nd level spells, drop Sleep or Cause Fear on enemies whenever you can get a good number of targets. Once you get Sahir-Afiyun, start dropping Euphoric Cloud and (laced) calm emotions

Any thoughts to go beyond that? I'm thinking improving the Familiar (literally your only class feature past spells) is the way to go, but most of the obvious tricks are out due being an Adept (UMD is going to need a 14 int of dropping two other skills part way to keep maxed and then a good charisma on top of it).

Well, Witch seems like the PC version of Adept (mix of arcane and divine spells, familiar), but Adept is divine while Witch is arcane.

So you could just play a Witch. :)

Playing a PC class isn't nearly as interesting as making an NPC class usable.

At first level, be an Expert not an Adept.

At second level, you're a very skilled Adept who can wear armor and wield weapons! (Adepts are divine casters!)

I guess I should be more helpful to your actual goal of playing an Adept (though a Witch with False Focus would be a great "adept").

As you mention, an Adept has no class features except Familiar. It also has other challenges. Since there is no Orisons/Cantrips feature it could be argued that casting 0 level spells expends that spell slot. It has no armor proficiency, and a greatly slowed rate of spell access.

But its spell list is an interesting mix of arcane and divine spells. So how to improve on it...

I like your tactic of adding spells to the (very limited) spell list. I don't have any experience with pesh magic, but the Veiled Illusionist seems a good fit.

Any PrC with full/mostly full (I wouldn't go below 9/10 since you are already behind the curve) would be good since it grants something you don't have....class features. I like the Green Faith Acolyte (animal companion and wild shape).

I think Improved Familiar is a must. A fairy dragon or tidepool dragon would be best as they cast as sorcerers, so you don't need to worry about UMD.

As you mention, an Adept has no class features except Familiar. It also has other challenges. Since there is no Orisons/Cantrips feature it could be argued that casting 0 level spells expends that spell slot. It has no armor proficiency, and a greatly slowed rate of spell access.

I would add a Orisons feature. I do not think it would overpower the Adept.

Casting monsters who don't have the feature in question have all been printed with unlimited cantrips, so it may not be needed.