Here's an edit. This is the proper light source that you must use for MAP RPG characters.
Um... what the eff? Who are you to say what light source MUST be use for ALL RPG characters? I'm sorry to be so blunt, but the lighting in your edit is just as poor as the lighting in Hazzy's original sprite. They are both pillow-shaded.
Hazzy, I have found that an overhead light source works well for these kinds of characters (and makes things much easier for game art in general) because sprites can be mirrored and remain consistent with the lighting in the rest of the scene. When shading, it's important to consider which surfaces are being lit directly and which surfaces are obscured from the light source, or angled away from it. The distance from the edge of the 2D sprite should have no effect. Regardless of lighting, I think the perspective needs work. Try to imagine, if you were looking down on a person in real life, how certain parts of the body would line up differently. For starters, you would see a lot more of the top of the head, and the neck would be mostly hidden. I could go on, but I think you get the gist of what I'm saying.
Here's an edit of your base and your character. I hope you find it useful: