>>280355464
>How do they stack up to more traditionally heroic characters?
They don't. Rance is created as an antitype of those traditional heroes of JRPG. The early Rance was a rapey wildman but as time goes by he becomes more measured and somewhat soft which makes him more relatable to you, but he's not a traditional epic hero for that exact reason. He is more like a reflection and embodiment of desire of modern males, not classic heroes who overcome Herculean ordeal.