I'm not going to make a big deal out of alignment for this game, except that it's going to be a Good campaign. It's okay if you make a neutral character who's in it for booze or booty, but just follow Google's rule and Don't Be Evil.

Strength (STR) is how hard you hit and how much weight you can move/carry.
Agility (AGI) is how likely you are to hit, and how fast you can run.
Intellect (INT) is book-learning, and covers magic, medicine, and math, among other things.
Wisdom (WIS) is common sense and street smarts. Great for doing business and not winding up with a Darwin award.
Charisma (CHA) is how good you are with people. Useful in politics, entertainment, and any social setting.
Constitution (CON) is your health. It covers everything from how fast you die to how well you hold your liquor.

The classic way of generating attributes is with random rolls, but that's not much fun if you have luck like mine. If you want to do it that way, let me know and I'll witness your rolls, but otherwise, here's a handy table of good but not outrageous number spreads! Choose one row and assign your attributes as you please.

14 13 13 13 13 13
14 14 13 13 13 11
14 14 14 12 12 11
14 14 14 14 12 8
15 14 13 12 12 11
15 15 13 12 11 10
16 15 12 11 11 10
16 14 14 12 11 8
16 16 12 10 10 10
16 16 12 11 11 8
17 15 12 11 10 8
17 14 12 11 10 10
18 13 13 10 10 8
18 14 11 10 10 8
18 12 12 10 10 10

Those who've played D&D before will know that technically some races aren't supposed to be certain classes, and there are attribute requirements for most classes. I say that's unnecessary nitpicking! Be a dumb orcish wizard or a weak gnomish paladin if you want! You might not be very useful, but the point is to have fun. I'm also not instituting weapon prohibitions on any class or race. As for multi-classing... we'll talk about that when people get to level 5.

• Bard: Ahh, the much-maligned bard. Well, no more! I'm making minstrels cool again! All bards get the spell Battle Song, and then they can either cast mage spells one level below theirs, or they can use whatever mundane weapons they have. The catch is that to cast spells the bard must first post some lyrics and then make a successful roll vs. their musical skill, and any spell takes at least 2 turns to cast. I will totally give you bonus points for creative lyrics, whether you make them up yourself or just hunt out really appropriate ones. Bards may prepare (CHA + Level)/4 spells per day.
• Cleric: The all-important healer, possibly the most important member of the party. All clerics attempt to honor the god they follow, while caring for their fellow man. There are general clerical spells that all clerics may learn and use, and specific ones for each god. It's not impossible to be a cleric of multiple gods, but characters must first reach 5th level. Clerics may prepare (WIS + Level)/2 spells per day.
• Mage: The classic spellcaster, whether you call them wizards, warlocks, or sorcerers. A mage may prepare (INT + Level)/2 spells per day.
• Paladin: Somewhere between a cleric and a warrior, paladins fight on behalf of their god. They don't necessarily have to be lawful good, but they must always be good. A paladin can also cast clerical spells and may prepare (WIS + Level)/4 spells per day.
• Ranger: Archer extraordinaire and lover of wild places, rangers have a special connection to nature. A ranger gains the bonus ability of Beast Speech, and the bonus skills of archery and survival in at least one biome. The most useful attribute for a ranger is AGI
• Rogue: Master of infiltration and investigation, rogues are far more versatile than just 'thief'. They're also superb fighters, both melee and at range, and often have a sideline in archaeology or something similar. Rogues may choose any bonus ability. The most useful attribute for a rogue is AGI
• Warrior: Suitable for any type of heavy melee, especially the all-important tank position. Warriors get two bonus skills that must be used for weapon skills. The most useful attribute for a warrior is STR for a standard warrior, or CON for a tank.

Abilities are things that cannot be learned, you have to be born with them. Night Vision, being double jointed, ambidexterity, particularly acute hearing, vision, or smell, beast speech, etc. Each character may have 1 ability, in addition to racial and class bonus abilities. I'm giving you fairly free rein to come up with your ability, but I reserve the right to veto anything too ridiculous. We're not talking superpowers here, just things you're naturally good at.

Just a note to begin with, this is probably the section where I'm deviating the most from D&D. I wanted a simple way to do things that doesn't involve constantly referencing charts. If this system doesn't work out, I may change things in the future.

Any spellcaster may prepare a limited number of spells per in-game day. It's a good idea to post those in your first post of the day, so it's easy to keep track of what you've cast and what you have left. Level 0 spells do not need to be prepared, and may be cast freely at any time. Clerics and Magi may cast spells at or below their own level. Bards may cast mage spells at one level below their own, and Paladins may cast clerical spells.

Mages and Bards must purchase a spellbook in order to cast spells. Clerics and Paladins must have holy symbols.

Level 0

• Battle Song: For every 5 turns the song is maintained, allies within hearing range get bonuses to hit and to damage for 10 turns from the end of the song. Bonus is equal to the bard's level.
• Create Fire: Creates a small, candle-flame sized flame. Good for lighting campfires or candles or anything flammable. Takes one turn to cast, caster must be able to see the thing being lit. Flame lasts 5 turns unless it lights something, in which case it lasts as long as there's fuel.

Level 1

• Alarm: Sets off a very loud alarm if any creature larger than a rat enters the subject area. Area can be up to a 20 foot cube. Creatures within the area during casting will not set off the alarm. Takes 10 turns to cast, lasts 4 hours +1/2 hr per level.
• Armor: Subject gains +1 AC per caster's level. Takes 10 turns to cast, lasts until subject has taken cumulative damage greater than 8 + caster's level.
• Detect Magic: Caster detects magical radiations in a path 10 feet wide and 60 feet long. Caster can determine the strength of the magic, and has a 10% chance of determining the type of magic. Takes 1 turn to cast, lasts 20 turns per caster's level.
• Feather Fall: Causes a falling subject to become light as a feather. Takes 1 turn to cast, lasts 10 x Caster Level turns, effective range is 10 x Caster's Level.
• Grease: Covers a material surface with a slippery layer of grease. Any creature entering the area must make a saving roll or slip, skid, or fall down. Those who successfully save may leave the greased area by the next turn. Those who remain in the area will get a saving throw every turn. Takes 2 turns to cast, lasts 5 turns per level unless dispelled by caster, covers a 10x10 area.
• Hold Portal: Magically bars a door, gate, etc. Takes 1 turn to cast, lasts 10 turns per caster's level.
• Light: Creates a glow equal to torchlight within a fixed radius of the spell's center. Takes 1 turn to cast, lasts 1 hour per level.
• Magic Missile: Creates up to 5 missiles of magical energy that dart forth from the wizard's fingertip to strike their target. The target creature must be seen or otherwise detected, and the caster must be able to identify the target. Inanimate objects cannot be damaged by the spell. Does 1d4+1 damage per missile. 1 missile/level, 1 second to cast, range 60 yards.
• Mending: Repairs small breaks or tears in objects. Can only repair up to 1 cubic foot of material. 1 turn to cast.
• Ventriloquism: Caster can make his voice-- or someone else's voice-- seem to come from some place else. Anyone rolling a saving throw with a -2 penalty will be able to detect the ruse. Range 10 yards/level.

Level 0

• Stabilize: This spell stops bleeding and stabilizes the subject until they can either get proper healing, or until they take more damage. Doesn't actually heal, but it's a good bandaid. Takes one turn to cast, caster must touch subject.

Level 1

• Bless: Raises the morale of friendly creatures within a sphere of up to 60 yards. They get +1 to saving rolls against fear and +1 to hit. Takes 10 seconds to cast, lasts 1 minute. Can also be cast as Curse.
• Cure Light Wounds: Takes 1 turn to cast, heals 1d8 points of injury. Can be reversed to Cause Light Wounds.
• Detect Evil: Caster detects evil (Or good, if reversed) radiations in a path 10 feet wide and 60 feet long. Caster can determine the strength of the evil. Takes 1 turn to cast, lasts 20 turns per caster's level.
• Detect Poison: Caster can determine if an object has been poisoned or is poisonous. Takes 4 turns to cast, lasts 1 minute. Priest has a 5% chance per level of determining the exact type of poison.
• Create [Element]: Caster can create a small amount of an element appropriate to the god they follow. Air, Fire, Earth, Water, Light, Darkness, and Random (roll a d6). Can create up to 100 cubic feet of air, light a candle, 100 lbs of clay/soil/stone, 10 gallons of water, light as per a mage's Light spell, or 3 square yards of darkness. Takes 1 turn to cast, Light and Fire last as per the mage spell, Darkness lasts 1 minute per caster's level. Created Air, Earth, and Water are permanent.

I put weapons first because they're the most complicated items you're likely to buy, and I've divided them up by weapon skill for convenience's sake.
Axe/Mace
Bow
Broadsword
Crossbow
Fencing
Knife
Staff
Sling
Spear
Two-Handed Axe/Mace,
Two-Handed Sword,
Whip

Armor:

Basic Equipment:
Animals:
Magic Items: You can't buy them, sometimes commission them, or more likely find them around the world!

Definitions
Turn: Equal to one second, only really active during combat situations.