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Just for fun I want to add class abilities to the NPC classes to give them more of an edge. Let's start with the lowly commoner, shall we?
Common Sense: At first level the commoner gains a +1 bonus to sense motive checks and saves versus mind-influencing effects. This bonus improves by +1 every 4 levels after.
Hearth and Home: Starting at 6th level the commoner gains a +1 bonus to saves against fear, fatigue, and exhaustion when defending his property or loved ones. This bonus increases by +1 every 4 levels after.
Common Bond: At 11th level you gain an animal companion. Your effective druid level is equal to a druid -5 when determining the animal's progression. The animal is weaker than most of its kind and has a -2 to it's strength and constitution.
Lethal Tools: At 16th level the commoner may use any improvised weapon without penalty as long as it is a tool.
Pillar of the Community: You gain the respect of your town elders and community leaders. You add 1/4 your commoner level when making charisma-based checks when dealing with nobility. You also gain the leadership feat for free, but only commoners can be your cohort and followers.
Serf (Commoner Archetype)
Illiterate: You cannot read or write. And you are so oblivious to the meaning of writing that you are immune to the effects of "Symbol" spells and any spell that requires seeing markings or writing. This replaces common sense.
Blind Faith: At 6th level, your faith in your god acts as a conduit for their power. Whenever a cleric or oracle of your chosen god casts a spell on you, their caster level is treated as 1 level higher. This replaces hearth and home.
Blind Loyalty: At 11th level you gain a +2 morale bonus to all skill checks whenever carrying out the requests of soldiers or nobility in the service of your lord. If they successfully intimidate you, this bonus is increased by +1. This replaces common bond.
Common Law: At 16th level, the serf can make any weapon he wields to become lawfully aligned for a number of rounds equal to have his level. These rounds need not be consecutive. This can be done once per day. This replaces lethal tools.
Privileged Peasant At 20th level your loyalty and hard work has granted you your lord's favor. You are granted 5,000 gp in land and equipment. You also receive a +4 on diplomacy checks when dealing with nobility. This replaces pillar of the community.
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I actually think it'd be a neat idea to have the various NPC classes "graduate" to a full blown PC.
You could have players play as NPC classes up through level, say, 10 or so, gaining a very few class features along the way. Then, at 10th level, they graduated to a full blown PC with stronger classes, losing most of their abilities, save for prospective class features, of their NPC classes, including HD, BAB, and Saving Throw bonuses. I actually kind of like this idea for that reason.
One house rule I hear someone use to make for a longer game and could be adapted to work here,
All players start out with a level in commoner. when they gain 1000 exp, they may trade that level for a level in a regular class, take a second level in commoner, or take a level in another npc class. Npc classes do not count for multiclassing. If you wish to multiclass as a different pc class, you must first take another level in commoner and upgrade it as detailed above.
To adapt it for this senario, just have it so you can trade out different npc classes for other core classes (Expert into rogue, Adapt into Wizard ect)
I think it would be great to start the game as a PC Commoner and once you get enough levels to graduate to a 'prestige class', the core classes.