A System Skeleton Inspired by LOTR and the Hobbit

Main Mechanic: Roll 1d20 adding appropriate bonuses equal to or over 11.

Advantage/Disadvantage: The GM may allow a player to roll a d20 check twice and take the higher or lower value if they have a significant edge or hindrance in completing the task.

Enemies and Attacks: The average enemy dies in one hit. All attack rolls are made with that same DC: 11 check. If enemies are stronger, more heavily armored, or protected by magic, they can take more hits. If a blow is particularly effective through planning or if a Natural 20 is rolled, it can deal two hits against a stronger enemy or in the case of weaker enemies it could slay multiple.
However, enemies and their attacks are also the same 11 target number.

Armor and Wounds: Armor worn by player characters can take hits equal to their Armor (Arm) per day, before the characters have had time at the end of the day to repair and maintain their armor. After that, player characters begin taking wounds. Wounds are represented by dice, usually d4s, though larger enemies may deal d6s. Each time a wound is dealt, where it was on the body must be recorded, then that die is rolled and subtracted form any checks related to the wound. Also each time a new wound is gained, all wound dice are rolled. If the total is equal to or greater than 12, then the character succumbs to their wounds, and, unless they are magically healed within three rounds, will die.

Combat: In Combat, PCs go first, followed by monsters. Repeat this order until combat is resolved. Each PC gets and Action and a Move though this can be altered through magic or abilities like Heroism Points.

Advancement and Song: Each time a character accomplishes a noteworthy deed or goes through some great or tragic event and composes a song or poem about it, they gain 1 Song. They can trade in Songs for levels. To get to the next level, you must pay Songs equal to double the level desired and you must pay for each in order. You can also spend Songs to gain Advantage on a check.

Levels: There are only 5 levels, the idea being that by the end of their great journey, the character will have arrived at level 5 and be at the peak of their power, ready to retire to a peaceful life, rule a kingdom, or sail into the west where there are lands unknown and adventures none living shall ever know.

Hero

The Hero is not necessarily heroic because of their goodness but for their ability to perform feats of astounding heroism. No one fights better, and ballads of their deeds fill every tavern.

Ex: Aragorn, Thorin Oakenshield, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir

Heroism Points: Every Hero has a pool of Heroism Points, beginning at 3, gaining 1 each level. Each round of combat you can spend these points to do any of the following things:

• Make an Attack
• Automatically deflect a Melee Attack
• Automatically succeed at a combat maneuver either offensively or defensively. Basically cool things like leaping from a chandelier, leaping on the back of a troll, hitting a specific part of a creature on a successful attack but also deal damage. Things like that.

Human: +3 Might, +2 Agility, +0 Mind

Sword, Medium Armor (2 Arm), Bow or Shield (1 Arm)

Human Heroes perform astounding feats of strength and bravery.

Elves: +2 Might, +3 Agility, +1 Mind

Bow, Light Armor (1 Arm), Dual Blades or Throwing Daggers

Elf Heroes perform feats of dexterity and grace impossible for humans or dwarves. They are also supremely light, not even breaking the surface of snow when they walk across it.

Dwarves: +4 Might, +1 Agility, +1 Mind

Hammer or Axe, Heavy Armor (3 Arm), Shield (1 Arm) or Crossbow

Dwarf Heroes are stout and hardy, performing astounding feats of endurance impossible for Humans or Elves. They are also surprisingly heavy and dense for their stature, allowing them to gain a lot of momentum.

Wizard

The Wizard's main strength is not their magic but it is their supremely long lives. They have been everywhere and know more than anyone else. Wizards might look like elves, humans, or even dwarves but they are are always more than they seem.

Ex: Gandalf

Lore Dice: Every Wizard has a pool of Lore Dice, beginning at 5d6, gaining 1 each level. Whenever you want to answer a question or possess knowledge of something you find, you may roll as many of these dice as you wish, taking the highest result. Each dice rolled is used up until you have taken a night's rest.

• On a 5-6 you know something immediately useful or get the exact information you were looking for.
• On a 2-4 you know something potentially useful or part of the answer you were looking for or you know where the knowledge might be found.
• On a 1 you only know whispers and rumors that are likely to be faulty or of extremely limited usefulness.

Magic Dice: The Wizard also has a pool of Magic Dice starting at 3d6, gaining 1 each level. When you go to cast a spell from one of your Realms of Power, you may roll as many of these as you like, taking the highest result to see how effective the magic is, depending entirely on the situation and negotiation between you and the GM. Each dice rolled is used up until you have taken a night's rest.

Realms of Power: roll (1d12) or pick two Realms of Power which are words that limit your magic to certain concepts as per your negotiation with the GM, roll or pick a new one each level.

1. Light
2. Darkness
3. Force
4. Fire
5. Glamor
6. Weather
7. Healing
8. Sight
9. Transformation
10. Travel
11. Speech
12. Conjuration

Languages: As a Wizard, you speak all languages even old dead tongues of yore.

Stats: +1 Might, +1 Agility, +3 Mind

Mysterious Staff, a Robe, an Interesting Hat, a Sword

Adventurer

The adventurer gets by with wits, stealth, and luck. With a mark on the door, the professional burglar, thief, adventurer, or tomb raider offers his services to all the world when they are not pursuing treasure out in the Wilderlands. Any race might be an Adventurer and it is perfectly possible to have an entire party of these folks much to the chagrin of any local keepers of law and general decency.

Ex: Bilbo, the other Dwarves in the Hobbit

Thief Dice: You gain a pool of d4s, starting at 3d4, gaining 1 per level, called Thief Dice, that can be spent to improve all rolls regarding traps, stealing, and sneaking. They recharge at the end of the day.

Fortune Dice: You make your own luck and have a pool of d6s, starting at 3d6, called Fortune Dice. Whenever you want a lucky break, a convenient escape, pulling just the right item out of your pocket, you may roll as many of these dice as you wish, taking the highest result. Each dice rolled is used up until you have taken a night's rest.

• On a 5-6 its just the thing you wanted in your pocket, the cart is perfectly placed to cushion your fall, there is a secret door just where you needed to escape the goblins.
• On a 2-4, you pull something that is near to what you wanted, the cart might just be a little farther away than you'd like, or the secret door requires some way of opening it that you have to figure out.
• On a 1, the item might be useful in some situation with a lot of creativity, there is a cart to catch you but it begins rolling downhill at an alarming speed, its not a secret door but a trap door and there are spikes down below.

Choose one of these at first level and then every level thereafter:

Swashbuckler: You gain 1 Heroism Point.

Little Tricks: Roll once (1d6) or choose from the following Realms of Power Table and gain 1 Magic Die.

1. Hide
2. Trap
3. Ward
4. Travel
5. Deceive
6. Find

Rumor Monger: Gain 1 Lore Die.

Fortune Favors: Gain another Fortune Die

Stats: Assign: +3, +2. and +1 to your stats as desired.

Choose three: A Melee Weapon, A Ranged Weapon, Light Armor (1 Arm), Thief Tools, A Shield (1 Arm), An Adventurer's Kit (3 Uses ala Dungeon World)