Paizo is doing another open playtest, this time for

The first playtest is for three variant classes - Gunslinger (fighter), Ninja (rogue), and Samurai (cavalier). You are not allowed to multiclass between a class and its variant, so no Gunslinger/Fighters running around.

So far I like the look of the gunslinger, it does look to play differently from the fighter. But I have some real problems with the rules that they have for blackpowder weapons. (I really wish that more game designers would try using the beasties before making rules for 'em, eh?) And because the gun rules are featured in a soon to be released supplement they are already set in stone.

Samurai and ninja I have less opinion on - not too likely that I will use them, since my homebrew centers around what would be the Germanies and Eberron is not particularly Asian.

Ah well, I like the gunslinger and the feats.

The Auld Grump

I dont own the books but I own the rules... so to speak. There are two other ways of getting to read the rules. One is here it's a rules database for Pathfinder. You don't get any fancy images or fluff text, but if you're experienced enough you can use this.
The other way is to have an iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad. You can go to the above site on your mobile device or you can download an app which is basically that site in an offline mode. here is the link to the store on the net. Only cost me £2.99.. which is a steal considering the core book is about £10 for a pdf download alone.

Or at least stick to Western fantasy and put the Asian classes in a region book.

Another part of the problem is that all the character classes being showcased for UC are niche classes. If they had showcased two more typical classes and one of the odder classes then it might not have had such a negative response from some folks.

But I think it likely that they feel those niche classes need the playtest more - that it is a lot easier to balance more typical classes than the ones who can do weird things - I mean, take a look at gunslinger, he starts with a weapon than costs more than the entire starting wallet of most PCs, and gets his own wallet on top of it. I can picture some groups rolling a gunslinger, and then rolling the gunslinger....

So the off the wall classes are the ones being tested first, they need it more.

The Auld Grump