We were testing out some APG classes as well as some odd race selections just to get the feel for things before our next campaign.
I ended up playing a Tengu Magus. At this point, I'm about 1/2 way through level 1 on fast track after having 3-4 small to medium fights.
Our party consisted of a Tiefling Cavalier (Cockatrice), Aasimar Oracle (Life), Hobgoblin Paladin, and a Drow Inquisitor along with my character. Yes, I know these are odd race selections, but like I said earlier, this was very much a "play with something new" session for everyone as well as letting the DM play with using races from the Beastiary to see how they're balanced.
My feedback really has nothing to do with stats or spells. It has to do with feel.
At level 1, all of the other classes had cool things available to them. The Paladin had Smite Evil, Aura of Good and Detect Evil. The Oracle had her first revelation and curse bonuses. The Cavalier had Challenge and Tactician. The Inquisitor had a half dozen things I'm not going to look up.
I had an ability that doesn't really do what it needs to until 2nd level and a handful of spells. I did try using Spellstrike once when I had time to pre-prep a spell before ambushing our opponents. I ended up rolling a 1 on my attack and the DM fizzled the spell (which likely wouldn't have changed as a touch attack).
Although I did like having the spells available and they came in handy, I didn't have anything that made me feel unique. At level 1, I could have just as easily have been a Wizard for all of the good it did me and would have more cool things available.
Getting a Magus Arcana at level 1 might help with that. It is something to get you committed to the class. As it was, if this were a real campaign, I might feel like letting my character get killed so I could roll something new or retiring it after the first adventure and beg my GM to let me start something else.
From a playing point of view, this will likely change when I hit level 2 or more (I've looked over the entire class several times, so I know what all I can get). However, at level 1, there is no hook. There is no immersion. You're just a Wizard who can wear light armor and play with different weapons.
Because of this lack of unique flavor at level 1 (and this all might just be due to Spellstrike needing rewritten) the class feels very un-Pathfinder. When moving from 3.5 to Pathfinder, the great thing about all of the classes was the depth of the customization and unique mechanics that you could sink your teeth into right out of the gate. Magus is missing that 'cool thing' that the rest of them have at level 1.
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This actually brings up a discussion I was having with one of my gaming friends the other night. I think a way to solve this problem is to give the Magus an Arcana progession similar to that of the witch's Hex progression. He also told me that it was suggested somewhere on here that they were considering implementing a "school of specialization" concept. I think coming up with school specializations will allow them a little more flavor, and allows some variants. It would also take advantage of the distinct "wizard" flavor the class possesses.
My DM and I were discussing it later. An Arcane Duelist Bard feels more like a Magus than a Magus does.
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I had an ability that doesn't really do what it needs to until 2nd level and a handful of spells. I did try using Spellstrike once when I had time to pre-prep a spell before ambushing our opponents. I ended up rolling a 1 on my attack and the DM fizzled the spell (which likely wouldn't have changed as a touch attack).
you used the ability and attacked threw your weapon the next round? spell wouldn't fizzle unless you casted another spell. just like holding any touch spell it sits there till you make contact. note this is if u hold the spell, not just cast and attack (as usual)
the point of that ability is so you can add weapon dmg and spell dmg together in one hit, and next level throw another spell together at the same time. :) hope that helps u out with it