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The DM in a campaign I'm playing in has an interesting alternate for people in a particular area of his homebrew world. This country has women known as Runeguards, who utilize an old magic known as Runeology. Their bodies are patterned with runes that they can use to cast special spells. It's a template he charges a feat for at the beginning of creation. A rune-guard must be a woman, and ostensibly compatibility is rare. The inherited or acquired template does the following:

-All spellcasting of the character is based off Charisma.
-+2 to Charisma.
-At every odd level the recipient acquires one spell of any class they can case. 1 is 1st level, 3 is 2nd level, 3 is 3rd level, ect. Those spells can be cast 3 times a day.

I want to disclaimer that yes, even considering the feat cost, this is a very powerful alternative. Our roleplaying group is comprised of all good friends, and we're pretty good about not getting out of hand even with powerful characters.

So here's the part I need help with. The story of Runeology is that this is one small form of the magic, and that while powerful, the rest has been lost. I am playing a character I'd like to be the subject of magical experimentation to expand this magic type. The DM is interested in this, and has decided that one of the lost lines of this magic was compatible with men only. He's asked me to work out a system. Here's what we're aiming for, a physical version of the above runeology. Women get casting powers with the magic, and are powerful in said abilities. The male version should increase physical abilities in some interesting and scaling way.

This forum seems like it's always been good for original and inventive approaches to systems like this, so I'm reaching out to get some help. All ideas are welcome and appreciated, and once I've got something nailed down I'll make sure to post the final version.

I am starting a new game as a player with a long time group (as we are wont to do). I haven't played a Pathfinder paladin in a regular game and think it looks like a lot of fun, especially considering that I feel the paladin was hard to look at in 3-3.5 (aside from the boost from the Battle Blessing feat, an obvious attempt to balance a low power class with a high power feat). Anyway, when thinking of this character I was considering an alternate idea. A LG character from a line of paladins whom, despite a sincere wish and strong alignment, will never be called to paladinhood. A fighter who walks the talk of paladinhood, if you will. I was trying to think of some good features and class abilities to take, as well as an interesting character approach to the guy. Any 3.5 is open, but subject to DM Fiat to keep balance in check. Complete champion has the Armor of God and whatnot, but wanted to see what people thought or ideas they had on how to play him. Thanks in advance for the advice.

I'm playing in a forum game right now with all friends from high school in a few different cities, to get the original group together for some dnd, and I've found it refreshingly fun in that it allows for a deeper level of role-playing not easily achieved in an in-person game (ex. being able to post internal thoughts about situations). We still have a dm, still do battles with html battle maps, ect.

So our group has started in prison, captured by slavers of an evil country after their unjust invasion of our country. After discussions and plots, we are afforded an opportunity to escape, which we agree to. Before doing so we are accosted by a guard to take one person to be tortured today. Figuring that he is the toughest via his class fort, hp's, and ability to heal himself (2nd level), the paladin draws the ire of the guard believing he has the best chance of making it out of the torture in fighting condition. The neutral warmage thwarts his attempt in derision of the guard, and we both end up going. Great.

Well in the cell I manage to avoid torture by reasoning, rather well I believe, with the guard and making, if you'll believe this, friends with them. The warmage does not do too well, and gets tortured like crazy, eventually signing a Faustian pact ala the Nine Hells 3.5 book, making him Law Evil.

To summarize, during our escape I find out and he admits signing his soul away. After discussion he decides to go the other way in the miles huge complex, stating he's been no bother to us, and tries to leave, which is my dilemma. In our group, despite the fantasy of dnd, we go for real emotional responses and legitimate character reactions. I'm not hardcore exalted, but being a reasonable and righteous paladin, I'm trying to decide what to do. I can strike him down beings that he has damned his soul and may sell us away to evil men, which could compromise our escape from prison (a huge miles large complex with magical and devil'ish defenses). The dm has stated it is not a paladin powers lose situation if I did, but it's my decision, and the player of the warmage is willing to accept my decision and make a new character if I do. If the warmage is refusing to seek redemption and attempts to leave, am I justified in laying him low?

In a recently started game, I'm playing an elven straight class fighter (only second). I was considering feat choices and I like the idea of Stand Still for some battlefield control. However, after reviewing the feat I found that, disappointingly, it seems inferior to getting Improved Trip. Both take 2 feats to get into, (combat reflexes and stand still versus combat expertise and improved trip).

Stand still, in place of an AoO, can use a combat maneuver check to stop the character still, keeping whatever else of their round they have. Improved Trip, as a combat maneuver, can be used in place of an AoO, and should the check succeed, puts the opponent prone, stopping their movement as well as the prone condition. Also, adds 2 to both offensive and defensive rolls for tripping, and for that matter can be used offensively.

Am I missing something, or is Stand Still genuinely an inferior choice to Improved Trip, even not accounting for the fact that you get a bonus on Imp Trip and it can be used offensively?

Edit: for grammar.