Thorne of Vancia (For Three Systems!)

Hey, buddy, let  me tell you about my character...

A few years back, the Hex Games crew started an on-going pulp sword & sorcery campaign. We rotate GMs and play whenever all of us have a chance to get together, so y'know, once a year if we're lucky. The adventures have been a lot of fun, and our characters all follow a couple basic premises about S&S heroes:
1) Pulp sword & sorcery heroes are extraordinarily competent.
2) Pulp sword & sorcery heroes are kind of terrible people.

How YOU doin'?

Our episodic adventures have been mostly deconstructive pastiches of old S&S tropes. Our characters are all deeply broken men who willingly put themselves in danger for nebulous rewards. The once-pleasant little fishing village where we chose to set up shop has become a den of vice, corruption, and degradation thanks to our presence.  It's been a lot of fun.

My character is Thorne of Vancia, a knock-off of the Grey Mouser.  Thorn ap Dion was the middle child of a rich merchant family from the decadent city of Vancia (a city I've recycled and fleshed-out for Pangloss). He had to leave his home after he "accidentally" murdered his fencing instructor. He has since wandered the world as a mariner, a gladiator, a mercenary, and a rogue. While serving as henchman for the sorcerer Varnum the Mad, he picked up a few minor magical tricks. When he left the sorcerer's service, he also stole a trunk full of unknown charms and talismans. Thorne hates the savage wilderness and longs for the decadent comforts of civilization. He is a quick-witted rogue of low character with a preference for opium, fortified wine, and unsavory women.

In adventures ran by Steve Johnson, Ian Engle, and Leighton Connor he helped loot the lost temple of Pikus the Fish God, liberated a tribe of bird-people, and stole the sword Nurandrel from an angel of Death. He has since pried the jewels from the sword's hilt and sold them for drugs. He has also had a year of his life magically drained away due to poor life choices.

Thorne was originally made for QAGS. I thought it would be neat to see what he looks like under two of my other favorite games, Fate Accelerated and Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition). I have two different listing for D&D--one with Thorne as a lowly 1st level beginner and one with him as a more-competent 5th level veteran.

I think it's interesting to contrast and compare the same character across three very different systems to see how the mechanics of each system switches focus on different aspects of the character. It's also neat to see how easily QAGS maps to FAE and vice-versa. Job and Weakness easily become High Concept and Trouble, while Gimmick and even Tagline provide additional aspects. Skills help inform Stunts, as well. For D&D it's nice to see that the Arcane Initiate feat works well enough for "the guy that messed around with magic a bit in the past" without having to go full-blown Arcane Trickster or multiclass Wizard.

QAGS

Thorne of Vancia

Body: 12

Brain: 11

Nerve: 14

HP: 12

YY: 3

Job: Vagabond Ne’er-do-well (15)

Gimmick: Magical Dabbler (11)

Weakness: Hedonist (11)

Skills

Trading +1

Fast Talk +2

Scimitar +2

Swordplay +3

WWPHITM?: Robert Downey Jr.

Tagline: “Style beats skill nine times out of ten.”

Dumb Fact: Has never been a pirate

Gear

Scimitar  (+3 Damage Modifier; medium, sharp)

Short Sword (+2 Damage Modifier; small, sharp)

Pockets full of minor charms and doo-dads

FATE Accelerated

Thorne of Vancia

High Concept: Vagabond Ne’er-do-well

Trouble: The pleasures of the flesh

Other Aspects: Magical dabbler, “Style beats skill nine times out of ten,” Wayward middle son of House Thorne

Approaches

Flashy +3

Quick +2

Sneaky +2

Careful +1

Clever +1

Forceful +0

Stunts

Because I use a blade in each hand, I get +2 when I Flashily Attack multiple combatants in melee.

Because I dabble in minor magics, I get +2 to Cleverly Create Advantage when using petty sorcery.

Because you never know what I’ve stashed in my pockets, once per session I can automatically add an aspect to a scene thanks to some handy item I happen to have on my person.

Refresh: 3

Stress: OOO

D&D 5th Edition (level 1)

Thorne ap Dion

Race: Human

Class/Level: Rogue 1

Background: Noble
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

AC: 14 (leather armor)

HP: 10 

Hit Die: 1d8

Prof Bonus: +2

STR: 10 (-)

Save +0

*Athletics +2

DEX: 16 (+3)

*Save +5

**Acrobatics +7

Sleight of Hand +3

*Stealth +5

CON: 14 (+2)

Save: +2

INT: 12 (+1)

*Save +3

Arcana +1

*History +3

Investigation +1

Nature +1

Religion +1

WIS: 8 (-1)

Save -1

Animal Handling -1

Insight -1

Medicine -1

Perception -1

Survival -1

CHA: 15 (+2)

Save +2

**Deception +6

Intimidation +2

Performance +2

*Persuasion +4

ORIGIN

Noble

Feature: Position of privilege

ATTACKS

Dual Shortswords: +5/+5 (1d6+3/1d6)

Dagger: +5 (1d4+3)

PROFICIENCIES

Armor: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbow, longswords, rapiers, shortswords

Tools: Thieves’ tools, playing card set

LANGUAGES

Common, Thieves’ Cant, Draconic

ROGUE ABILITIES

Expertise

Sneak Attack 1d6

FEATS

Magic Initiate (sorcerer)

TRAITS

Speed: 30’

SPELLCASTING

Cantrips Known:  Light, Prestidigitation

1st Level Spells: Sleep

Spell Save: DC 12

GEAR

Shortsword x2

Explorer’s pack

Leather armor

Dagger x2

Thieves’ tools

Set of fine clothes

Signet ring

Scroll of pedigree

TREASURE
GP: 25

INSPIRADO

PERSONALITY TRAIT: If you do me an injury, I will crush you, ruin your name, and salt your fields.

IDEALS: I must prove that I can handle myself without the coddling of my family.

BONDS: Nothing is more important than the stout companions that I travel with.

FLAWS: I have an insatiable desire for carnal pleasures.

D&D 5th Edition Version (Level 5)

Thorne ap Dion

Race: Human

Class/Level: Rogue 4, Fighter 1

Background: Noble
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

AC: 16 (studded leather armor + Dual Wielder feat)

HP: 39 

Hit Die: 4d8, 1d10

Prof Bonus: +3

STR: 10 (-)

Save +0

*Athletics +3

DEX: 16 (+3)

*Save +6

**Acrobatics +9

Sleight of Hand +3

*Stealth +6

CON: 14 (+2)

Save: +2

INT: 12 (+1)

*Save +4

Arcana +1

*History +4

Investigation +1

Nature +1

Religion +1

WIS: 8 (-1)

Save -1

Animal Handling -1

Insight -1

Medicine -1

Perception -1

Survival -1

CHA: 15 (+2)

Save +2

**Deception +8

Intimidation +2

Performance +2

*Persuasion +5

ORIGIN

Noble

Feature: Position of privilege

ATTACKS

Dual Rapiers: +6/+6 (1d8+3/1d8+3)

Dagger: +6 (1d4+3)

PROFICIENCIES

Armor: Light Armor, Medium Armor

Weapons: Simple weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: Thieves’ tools, playing card set, disguise kit, poisoner’s kit

LANGUAGES

Common, Thieves’ Cant, Draconic

ROGUE ABILITIES

Expertise

Sneak Attack 2d6

Cunning Action

ROGUISH ARCHETYPE (ASSASSIN)

Assassinate

FIGHTER ABILITIES

Fighting Style: Two-Weapon Fighting

Second Wind

FEATS

Magic Initiate (sorcerer)

Dual Wielder

TRAITS

Speed: 30’

SPELLCASTING

Cantrips Known:  Light, Prestidigitation

1st Level Spells: Sleep

Spell Save: DC 12