Aye, but according this (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/glossary&term=Glossary_dnd_spelllikeability&alpha=) glossary, spell-alike abilities lack somatic components. But perhaps considering that warlock can only use his spell-alike abilities in light armor is because he adds some words and gestures (where normal spell-alike abilities invoke no gestures nor words at all), so a arcane swordsage performs some physical movement to invoke a spell as part of martial prowess (and so looses armor proficiency as it hinders his casting).<br/><br/>Anyways, going stick with that arcane swordsage spells are spell-alike abilities and suffers from spellcasting failure if swordsage wears armor (without feat uses or such).<br/><br/>Also as my own ruling (as this variant's rulings are bad), any spell which has 1 hour/CL or 1 day/CL duration can be taken (with GM's permission) as a stance. Example mage armor would make sense as a 1st level stance (while shield is not as it is 1 min/CL duration spell).