Fate is a free system available at http://faterpg.com. It is derived from the fudge system and developed by Evil Hat.
Fate uses pithy phrases --called aspects-- instead of ability stats as the defining character mechanic. Game currency (called Fate points) is spent to invoke aspects for bonuses to skill rolls, and earned when aspects complicate a scenario. Skills (or approaches in FAE) compose the heart of the system, and are used to determine the degree of success or failure on any action for which failure would be interesting. Conflicts use stress to inflict temporary damage and additional aspects represent lasting damage.
Games using the Fate engine include spirit-of-the-century, diaspora, and dresden-files. While the urban fantasy Dresden Files RPG is Fate's flagship game, the system is now codified as a generic system in the fate-core and Fate Accelerated Edition for use in any setting or genre; both Core and FAE are OGL and CC.
