Need recommendations for a free system

**WarKitty** · 2010-10-06, 08:01 PM (ISO 8601)

One of my friends wants to run a campaign. He was describing to me that he wants to run a D&D game, but he wants us to start out as essentially commoners and gain class levels and skills based on what we do. From the description it sounded like he wants a system where you can train different powers/skills, rather than your standard level-based D&D system. It would definitely be a low-power and low-magic game, but he does want us to have magical abilities.

Any system we use needs to be available for free, since none of us want to spend more money. Does anyone have any good recommendations?

**Marnath** · 2010-10-06, 08:05 PM (ISO 8601)

I reccomend reading the story of Joe Wood the Commoner for ideas on how to do this. Heroes Backpack uses 3.5e for it I think. It just becomes more about story telling than fighting.

**WarKitty** · 2010-10-06, 08:14 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Marnath

I reccomend reading the story of Joe Wood the Commoner for ideas on how to do this. Heroes Backpack uses 3.5e for it I think. It just becomes more about story telling than fighting.

Thanks. Somehow I just can't see 3.5 working very well, particularly as the guy is absolutely new to DM'ing. I'd prefer to be able to present him with a system. (Actually I already see a few pitfalls - he's too much of a storywriter.)

**kyoryu** · 2010-10-06, 08:17 PM (ISO 8601)

Well, it's not free, but RuneQuest, or its spiritual successor, SPQR (http://www.perrinworlds.com/SPQR.html) would fit the bill well. SPQR is pretty cheap - $25 according to the site.

I just have to pimp SPQR since I used to work with Steve :) (edit: Though, looking at his site more, make sure that you'd actually get enough for your $25 to play...)

**Marnath** · 2010-10-06, 08:21 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by WarKitty

Thanks. Somehow I just can't see 3.5 working very well, particularly as the guy is absolutely new to DM'ing. I'd prefer to be able to present him with a system. (Actually I already see a few pitfalls - he's too much of a storywriter.)

Even so, I still reccomend reading it. It's a good story. ^.^

**ranagrande** · 2010-10-06, 08:53 PM (ISO 8601)

GURPS would probably be perfect for that.

**alisbin** · 2010-10-06, 09:09 PM (ISO 8601)

you can get the FATE system for free, theres an SRD for spirit of the century (which is a fate game) somewhere and you can access the basic SRDhttp://evilhat.wikidot.com/fate-csrd. its extremely versatile and only needs a few dice (4d6 runs the whole system), certainly worth a look.

**Kiero** · 2010-10-07, 03:38 AM (ISO 8601)

There's a big long list of free games compiled by John Kim.

There are two other "free" FATE 3.0 games besides the ageing SRD for Spirit of the Century. Diaspora is one, Free FATE is the other.

**The Rose Dragon** · 2010-10-07, 05:50 AM (ISO 8601)

There is also Witchcraft. I would accept no substitutes, personally.

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