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One thing I expected to see more of in this whole discussion was people suggesting this rule or that rule from other companies' products (ex: "Green Ronin has great feat and it's OGL! We should look into using it in Pathfinder."). I've seen folks recommend a few other products as models but none of the specifics. So... What are your favorite races, classes, feats, etc. from other non-WotC OGL sources that you think might fit well into Pathfinder? I'm sure this discussion will eventually get into the details of what can be used from other companies' products and what can't, or how to go about getting permission to do so, but that would be interesting too (the discussions of the last year have been a fascinating looking into the world of publishing, at least for me :).
I would like to see the Thanemage from Green Ronin's Advanced Player's Manual. Is basically the "gish" class that could have been used for the 12th icon.
I'm a particular fan of character traits. I know Iron Heroes and Arcana Unearthed use them. Much like regional/background feats they provide a neat way to help define your character, helps to make your character distinct from other characters of the same class, and provides a mechanical benefit for role-playing choices.
I also really like the Siege Mechanic system from Castles & Crusades (which uses the idea of Primary/Secondary attributes). It provides an incredibly flexible, simple, and elegant way of resolving non combat checks. It can be used for attribute checks, skill checks, bull-rush and trip attack checks, and many others. The Siege Mechanic actually allows for effective character builds that are hard to do in 3.5 like charismatic warriors who can bluff their way through encounters and rogues who can actually perform feats of strength.
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For starters, I would suggest the Men-At-Arms series from Blackdirge Publishing. Numerous PDF's featuring a prestige class based on a particular weapon or warrior concept. (Plus, there's a NPC provided, so you could add that personage to an adventure). If you you are envisioning a shortbow archer much like the Parthians, Huns or Mongols, the Ironstrike Archer could be worth a look. If you would like a crossbow using sniper, there is the Arbelestier. If you want a character who is into brutal pit-fighting with spiked or bladed gloves/guantlets, there is the Crimson Pugilist. The Curse Slinger mixes a little bit of magic and the sling. The Shatterskull Adept works well at doling out damage with a mace. (I'm looking at making a somewhat militant cleric of St. Cutbert into a Shatterskull Adept).
I also liked some of the stuff from EN Publishing Arsenal series. Basically, they explore a historical or fantasy weapon, and present prestige classes, feats, as well as variations and masterwork and/or magical versions of such weapons. I have four PDFs, I have designing three characters from three of them: a spiked-chain wielding half-ogre (A Scorpion Warrior from the Spiked Chain PDF), a rapier and bladed whip using duelist (from the Whips PDF) and a priest turned quasi-paladin (a Faithwarden from the Shields PDF).
There is also some good stuff from Sinister adventures, thanks to the incredible efforts of Nicolas Logue. The Art of the Duel, the Warrior's Way and the Dajobas: Devourer of Worlds PDFs work nicely for a few new Prestige Classes, feats and even campaign ideas.
I liked the Holy Warrior class from Book of the Righteous which revised the Paladin into a general purpose holy knight class. By selecting 2 of three domain powers you could build a Paladin best customised for a particular god (an not just limited to LG). It was updated to 3.5 as a PDF. There was the Unholy Warrior class book as well which was GR's version of the Anti-Paladin.
Also GR, the best 3rd party Drow book was Plot & Poison which had an alternative pantheon and some new subraces. I also liked GR's Wrath & Rage about orcs. The dwarf book was well reviewed but it seemed too heavily influenced by Warhammer to me.
I think Monte Cook handled powerful races best in Arcana Unearthed with racial levels. I note this was adopted in the World of Warcraft RPG.
I like the idea of core class abilities as in Spycraft, True20, and Spellslinger: a class ability that can only be gained at first character level (rather than class level). It helps distinguish multi-class characters.
Warlords of the Accordlands RPG added extra class abilities by race which gave a nice way of distinguishing characters.
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I am extremely fond of the Master core class found in the Dragonlance campaign expansion War of the Lance by Sovereign Press. It was a playable Expert class that covers the creation of sages, professionals, non-bardic performers, and craftsmen. As a matter of fact, a lot of good stuff can be found in that campaign setting after Sovereign Press took it over.
The Scarred Lands books from Sword Sorcery Studios gave some interesting new takes on class features in their class splatbooks. And another extremely well made campaign setting.
And the Game of Thrones RPG by Guardians of Order has a variety of takes on the regional feats mechanic, with certain feats only available to those from the various noble houses and regional benefits to PCs such as skill bonuses just for having that region as their origin.
I'm pretty sure all the above is OGL.
if Pathfinder eventually goes the Psionic route, to me there is only one viable option out there and that's Dreamscarred Press.
They very much love Psionics and the people in charge really do care about our opinions much like the Paizo folks.
Jason, Eric, Lisa, etc, if you read this, please, Please, PLEASE consider working with the awesome people over at DSP to make some truly amazing Psionic material.