Temperaments are the building blocks of your creations.

The Blade, the Heart, the House and the Sun ⚔️ ❤️ 🏡 ☀️

The Tempified system isn’t just another character-building tool. It’s about cracking open the layers of human nature, getting right down to the raw stuff that makes characters not just believable, but real. It’s all built on the concept of temperaments, blending ancient wisdom with modern psychological insights. Think of it as an old-school idea with a fresh coat of paint, designed to help you craft characters that stick—the ones your audience can’t stop thinking about.

At its core, the Tempified system rests on four fundamental temperaments. These temperaments capture the essence of human behavior, like the invisible strings that pull us toward decisions, desires, and conflicts. By digging into these concepts, Tempified gives you a framework that’s solid enough to guide you, but flexible enough to let your creativity run wild.

Up are the official icons of the Tempified brand for books and official tools for copyright necessities, but on the web we are going to use classic emoticons like this:

So, crafting characters with real depth starts by tapping into their temperaments—the core traits that shape everything from their strengths to their weaknesses and quirks. These temperaments anchor your characters in genuine human psychology, making them feel as relatable as your best friend—or as infuriating as your most unbearable relative.

When you define a character’s temperament, you’re not just giving them a label. You’re building in their strengths, their flaws, their whole way of seeing the world. Maybe your hero is ambitious and decisive, always the one to take action, but that same drive might push them to the brink, making them distant or even ruthless. No one’s perfect, after all.

But temperaments aren’t just static traits. They’re the compass for growth. As your story unfolds, and challenges arise (as they inevitably do—what’s a story without a bit of tension?), these innate qualities guide how your characters evolve. Their journey isn’t random. It’s built right into their core, making them feel dynamic.

In short, temperaments are the scaffolding for believable characters, and by starting with these traits, you’ll create people—not just figures—who are as complex as they are compelling.

Every character begins with one of four Tempified temperaments, each offering its own strengths and blind spots. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill personality types—no, these are deep-rooted characteristics designed to bring out the best, and sometimes the worst, in your characters.

⚔️ The Blade: Action-Packed and Unapologetic

The Blade archetype doesn’t hesitate. They dive into the storm, sword in hand, ready to fix what’s broken or destroy what’s in the way. Driven by an unstoppable saviour complex, they see life as a battlefield—one problem, one challenge, one victory at a time. For Blades, strength isn’t just a trait; it’s a mandate. They’re wired to lead, to act, to cut through indecision with a sharpness that’s as thrilling as it is intimidating.

Blades are carved from ambition and perfectionism. Right and wrong? It’s simple: act decisively, and don’t tolerate hesitation. Mediocrity grates on their nerves, and compromise? That’s for people who don’t have the guts to win. While this makes them fearless protectors and natural leaders, it also means they struggle with life’s gray areas. Their demand for efficiency can come off as cold or even ruthless, but to them, it’s the price of getting the job done.

Take Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher. He’s the ultimate Blade—solving problems with steel, precision, and a cool detachment. Monsters, bandits, corrupt kings—it doesn’t matter. He cuts through them all, focused on his task. But if you look closer, there’s a fierce protectiveness beneath the surface. He doesn’t just kill monsters—he saves people, too. It’s just hard to tell if he sees it as duty or instinct.

Or think of Princess Leia from Star Wars. She’s all Blade—sharp, commanding, and ready to stand toe-to-toe with Vader himself. Her quick decisions and unyielding resolve hold the rebellion together. But when the battles are over and the galaxy quiets, she’s alone with the weight of her choices—because, if she's not in charge, who will?

Blades win, they conquer, and they don’t lose sleep over bruised egos or broken alliances. They’d rather carry the scars of their choices than live with the regret of inaction. They’re heroes—or antiheroes—who lead with precision and power, and whether you love or fear them, one thing’s for sure: you’ll never forget them.

❤️ The Heart: Authentic, Idealistic, and Resilient

The Heart characters—they don’t just live life; they feel it, every jagged edge and soft curve. They’re the ones who run headlong into the storm because someone, somewhere, might need a hand. They love hard, hurt harder, and keep going, even when it feels like the world’s taking a sledgehammer to their soul. Hearts don’t carry shields; they carry everyone else’s weight, whether they’re asked to or not.

But let’s not sugarcoat it—it’s messy. Imagine carrying a bucket filled to the brim, sloshing emotions all over the place. That’s a Heart, caught between what they give to the world and what little they save for themselves. They’re noble, foolish, and beautifully human, often choosing the world over their own needs, even when it breaks them.

Take Luke Skywalker from Star Wars. He’s a farm boy turned galactic hero, led not by ambition or power but by hope. When he learns Darth Vader is his father? It guts him. But even then, he doesn’t give up. There’s a whisper in his soul—there’s still good in him. Every battle isn’t just for the galaxy; it’s for the fragile ember of love he believes exists in the darkest places. But that love? It’s his strength and his vulnerability, pulling him to the brink but also saving him when nothing else can.

Then there’s Carrie Bradshaw, strutting through New York in heels that make no sense. She writes her heart into every column, pouring every heartbreak and blissful high into her stories. She dives into love like it’s an ocean, knowing full well the waves will knock her flat. And yet, she keeps going because to her, a life without love—messy, painful, wild love—is no life at all. Sure, she stumbles, blinded by her own passion, but she always stitches herself back together, just in time for another leap.

That’s the thing about Hearts—they break, sometimes spectacularly, but they mend. Every scar becomes a lesson, every fall softens their edges without hardening their spirit. They make us feel, gut-deep, because when they hurt, we hurt. But they always rise, ready to love, to fight, and to give the world more of what it desperately needs. And honestly? That’s their magic.

🏡 The House: Steady, Stubborn, and Loyal

The House types—they’re the ones you’d want next to you when life’s spinning out of control. Chaos might rattle the rest of us, but not them. They’re the steady hands, the unyielding anchors, the pillars holding everything together. Rooted in tradition and bound by duty, House characters thrive in order and stability. But ask them to adapt, and you’ll find their rigidity cuts both ways. Bend them too far, and they don’t flex—they snap. For them, chaos isn’t just unsettling; it’s a threat to everything they hold dear.

Take Ned Stark from Game of Thrones. Honour, loyalty, and duty define him, a true House archetype carved out of stone. He’s the moral compass in a world gone mad, unwavering even when it would save his life to compromise. That integrity is both his greatest strength and his downfall. The world shifts, alliances crumble, and the rules change—but Ned doesn’t. His refusal to adapt seals his fate, proving that being steadfast doesn’t always mean being safe.

Then there’s Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings. If loyalty were a person, it’d be Sam. He’s the glue that keeps Frodo—and their entire quest—together. When Frodo falters, Sam doesn’t. When hope feels like a far-off dream, Sam carries the weight (and Frodo, literally) on his sturdy shoulders. He’s not chasing glory or riches; it’s his quiet, unshakable devotion that ensures their success. Without him, the ring would’ve won long before they reached Mount Doom.

House characters are the rocks you lean on when the world feels like quicksand. But here’s the catch: they resist change with everything they’ve got. When life demands they adapt, their unshakable foundations start to crack. Their strength lies in their loyalty, their roots—but those same roots can tether them too tightly, leaving them vulnerable to upheaval. And yet, when the storm comes, they’re still the ones standing firm, keeping the rest of us from falling apart.

☀️ The Sun: Thrilling, Unpredictable, and Daring

Ah, the Sun types—they’re the wildcards, the adrenaline junkies, the ones who see a cliff not as a danger but as an invitation. They’re powered by curiosity and the rush of what-ifs, charging into the unknown like it’s their natural habitat. Plans? Overrated. Rules? Suggestions, at best. They crave discovery and novelty, and if chaos tags along for the ride, well, all the better.

Take Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. She’s the perfect Sun—action driven, relentlessly curious, and just reckless enough to make you gasp. Whether she’s dodging ancient traps or piecing together the mysteries of lost worlds, she’s in it for the thrill. Danger? It’s a spark that fuels her, not a deterrent. Her need for discovery drives her forward, consequences be damned, making every moment with her an edge-of-your-seat adventure.

And then there’s Willy Wonka, the eccentric genius of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wonka’s imagination is boundless, his factory a world of sugary wonder—but he’s no ordinary dreamer. His ideas dance between brilliance and chaos, often with explosive results (quite literally). He’s charming, magnetic, and utterly unpredictable. You’ll follow him into his world of edible marvels, but there’s always the risk you’ll stumble into one of his more... experimental designs. He’s the Sun personified: dazzling and delightful, but with an edge that keeps you guessing.

Sun characters are the spark plugs of any story. They ignite action, push boundaries, and remind us that life is too short to play it safe. They shine so brightly that it’s easy to get caught in their glow, but don’t forget—they burn hot. And when they burn out, they often leave chaos smoldering in their wake. But for all their unpredictability, they’re the ones who teach us to embrace the thrill of the unknown and savor the beauty of risk.

Blending Temperaments to bring depth

Here’s where it gets deliciously complex—because no one in real life is just a Blade or only a Sun. People are messy, full of contradictions, and your characters should be, too. Think of temperaments as paints: bold on their own, but when you start blending? That’s where the magic happens. Those mixed hues bring depth, texture, and life. ⚔️ ❤️ 🏡 ☀️

Picture a ⚔️ ❤️ Blade-Heart —someone who fights with unyielding grit but is quietly wrecked by the weight of those they protect. Every decision cuts deep because they feel every consequence. Or how about a ☀️🏡 Sun-House —a wild spirit who thrives on adventure but clings to the comfort of home when the thrill fades. It’s in these combinations that characters come alive. They’re not predictable; they’re human, with quirks, contradictions, and instincts that drive them through the story in ways even they might not fully understand.

Let’s break it down with our two Sun examples—both fueled by adventure, yet worlds apart in how they chase it. What sets them apart isn’t their shared Sun temperament but the secondary one—the subtle force that shapes their decisions, their chaos, and ultimately, who they become.

Lara Croft is ☀️⚔️ Sun-Blade, and it shows in everything she does. Her Sun drives her relentless curiosity, pushing her to explore tombs, dodge death traps, and face the unknown head-on. But it’s her Blade side that sharpens her edge. Lara doesn’t just survive—she strategizes, adapts, and fights with precision. Every leap into the abyss isn’t just reckless abandon; it’s calculated risk, driven by an internal mandate to win, conquer, and protect. That’s why her chaos feels razor-sharp—it’s chaos with a purpose.

Now step into Willy Wonka’s whimsical world, and you’ll see a ☀️❤️ Sun-Heart in all his technicolour glory. He’s the embodiment of creativity, crafting chocolate waterfalls and edible dreams, but there’s an unexpected foundation beneath the madness. His Heart keeps him human, seeking connexion in his world of sugary chaos. Wonka craves an open heart within his fantastical factory, testing the character of those who enter. Compassion matters to him—even if it’s cloaked in his eccentric experiments. His chaos isn’t aimless; it’s a way to find the few who can share his vision without crumbling under it.

Both are ☀️ Suns, but their secondary temperaments create entirely different shades. Lara’s chaos is ⚔️ sharp and purposeful, while Wonka’s is vibrant and ❤️ strangely caring. It’s this interplay of temperaments that makes them unforgettable—layered, vivid, and full of contradictions that feel entirely human. That’s the power of blending temperaments—it takes shared traits and spins them into wildly different characters who shine in their own unique light.

And it's with this mix of temperament that, in Tempified, we create our Archetypes—structured yet dynamic, designed to make every character feel alive.

In the Tempified Lens, Lara Croft ☀️⚔️ Sun-Blade is from The Adventure hero Archetype. They thrive in chaos, the kind of person who’d jump off a cliff just to see if they could land on their feet.

And Willy Wonka is a Quirly Creative ☀️❤️. In their world, the unexpected is the norm, and you’re bound to walk away with more questions than you had when you arrived.

Now let's explore more in details the 12 Heroes Archetypes, shall we?