# Ghost Classification System **URL:** \ **Category:** Ghostbusters Video Games\ **Created:** [March 28, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717 "2011-03-28T18:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/massacci/32/269_2.png) [@Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Massacci)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/1 "2011-03-28T18:11:39Z")
So I was going through the pages of [Tobin’s Spirit Guide](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/tobins-spirit-guide) in the GB:TVG strategy guide, organizing the various ghosts by class in order to gain an idea as to what kind of classification system the developers had established. I compared the information to the classification system already established by Ghostbusters International, and I found the results to be quite contradictory. Since [the video game](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/games/ghostbusters-the-video-game) is considered “canon”, I think it would be correct to construct a classification system based on the rules made by the game developers. Is there any way of obtaining this information? Has anyone tried this before? ---
**Author:** ![cowbybill](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@cowbybill](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/cowbybill)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/2 "2011-03-28T19:48:54Z")
If I remember there are a few folks that have done it. One thing you may want to consider when doing this is not only do you have TVG but you have the films,[Sanctum of Slime](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/games/ghostbusters-sanctum-of-slime), [The Real Ghostbusters](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/games/the-real-ghostbusters-activison), [Extreme Ghostbusters](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/extreme-ghostbusters), The Comic Books and the Role Playing Game. Each one has classifications for ghosts, I know that AJ has some of the RPG text on the site. I hope you’re able to make sense of it all, it seems a duanting task to say the least. Good luck and keep us updated on it I know I’d be interested in seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/massacci/32/269_2.png) [@Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Massacci)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/3 "2011-03-28T20:44:44Z")
As far as RGB and EGB goes I only use that for reference. I dont consider it canon. Is there a classification system in [Sanctum of Slime](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/games/ghostbusters-sanctum-of-slime)? ---
**Author:** ![cowbybill](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@cowbybill](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/cowbybill)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/4 "2011-03-28T21:08:25Z")
> [@Massacci](#): > > As far as RGB and EGB goes I only use that for reference. I dont consider it canon. Is there a classification system in Sanctum of Slime? Not sure I got bored with it in the sewer level and haven’t played it since ---
**Author:** ![Darkness](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@Darkness](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Darkness)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/5 "2011-03-28T21:50:34Z")
I’d be interested in what you come up with as well. As far as [Sanctum of Slime](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/games/ghostbusters-sanctum-of-slime), there doesn’t seem to be a classification system that I’ve noticed other than red, yellow and blue ghosts and bosses. ---
**Author:** ![fritz](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/fritz/32/10773_2.png) [@fritz](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/fritz)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/6 "2011-03-28T23:24:47Z")
I’m probably the biggest cartoon fan on the board, and I don’t use their system. It’s barely even a system. It was basically a simple power scale, which led to the inevitable number inflation “We put a Class 10 in last week’s episode, so this week we have to make the big bad a Class 11–because it’s one louder!!!” I’ve used the [GBI system](http://www.ectozone.com/gbfl/terms.php) for a quarter century, and it works just fine for me. It’s based more on the ghost’s origin and characteristics than just their power (though there’s a rough progression along those lines, it’s not absolute.) That being said, not having played the game or having much knowledge of what they said about ghost classification, I’ll be interested in what you come up with. ---
**Author:** ![mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/mrmichaelt/32/187196_2.png) [@mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/mrmichaelt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/7 "2011-03-29T04:25:46Z")
I agree with Fritz, its not an absolute. I tend to think of it more as the foundation. Just like anything, ghosts change and so did the ghostbusting technology, so it’s plausible the classification system gotten rewritten a few times in the GB universe. For the team that did the Realistic Version, they did follow the GBI system but made a few mistakes (i.e. [Pappy Sargassi](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/games/ghostbusters-the-video-game/ghosts/pappy-sargassi) should have changed to a Class IV. In a earlier permutation of the game, he was an unknown Class III and the team helped him solve his problem). I’d say the biggest error was the [Possessor Ghosts](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/games/ghostbusters-the-video-game/ghosts/possessor-ghost) and making them Class VII entities. Nothing else stood out as erroneous to me. But it didn’t irk me as much as the Stylized Version’s classifications but it does sorta come off like they were classifying entities like they appearing on RGB or something. ---
**Author:** ![TristanJones](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TristanJones](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/TristanJones)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/8 "2011-03-30T03:03:39Z")
I’m very interested in hearing what people have to say on this. Ever since I started doing the Spirit Guide style art it had always bugged me what system to use. I was planning on writing a completely new one that would incorporate a lot of what’s said in the shows and movies, but into separate categories – Ghosts, Demons, Physical Entities, Deities, etc. – so you wouldn’t have a class 13 like Tenebraug being inconsistently more powerful than Gozer who’s classed significantly lower. ---
**Author:** ![Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/massacci/32/269_2.png) [@Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Massacci)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/9 "2011-03-30T19:53:59Z")
> [@mrmichaelt](#): > > For the team that did the Realistic Version, they did follow the GBI system but made a few mistakes (i.e. Pappy Sargassi should have changed to a Class IV. In a earlier permutation of the game, he was an unknown Class III and the team helped him solve his problem). I’d say the biggest error was the Possessor Ghosts and making them Class VII entities. Nothing else stood out as erroneous to me. They couldnt have followed the GBI system completely. Every single ghost or entity listed as class VI in game shouldnt be given that classification if we were following the GBI system. Thats what leads me to believe that the development team created their own system. UPDATE: Im at the very beginning of rewriting the classification system and Im pretty sure Ive discovered and corrected the errors in both the GBI system and the game. More soon. ---
**Author:** ![mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/mrmichaelt/32/187196_2.png) [@mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/mrmichaelt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/10 "2011-03-31T02:05:21Z")
> [@Massacci](#): > > > [@mrmichaelt](#): > > > > For the team that did the Realistic Version, they did follow the GBI system but made a few mistakes (i.e. Pappy Sargassi should have changed to a Class IV. In a earlier permutation of the game, he was an unknown Class III and the team helped him solve his problem). I’d say the biggest error was the Possessor Ghosts and making them Class VII entities. Nothing else stood out as erroneous to me. > > They couldnt have followed the GBI system completely. Every single ghost or entity listed as class VI in game shouldnt be given that classification if we were following the GBI system. Thats what leads me to believe that the development team created their own system. UPDATE: Im at the very beginning of rewriting the classification system and Im pretty sure Ive discovered and corrected the errors in both the GBI system and the game. More soon. I see, like the zombie and the golems. I think skankerzero said they were going off the descriptions more than the class #'s. Cool, always looking forward to this type of material. > [@TristanJones](#): > > I’m very interested in hearing what people have to say on this. Ever since I started doing the Spirit Guide style art it had always bugged me what system to use. I was planning on writing a completely new one that would incorporate a lot of what’s said in the shows and movies, but into separate categories – Ghosts, Demons, Physical Entities, Deities, etc. – so you wouldn’t have a class 13 like Tenebraug being inconsistently more powerful than Gozer who’s classed significantly lower. Yeah, I settled on Ghosts, Corporeal, Unstable, and Deities/Supreme Beings like TVG but also think there are subcategories for some i.e. Demons would go under Deities/Supreme Beings (because some often stood in as gods like recently with Dumazu) and Vathek as a sub category of Ghosts with the trio from “[Deadliners](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/extreme-ghostbusters/deadliners)” or Moriarty, Sherlock, Watson, and the Hound from “Elementary, My Dear Winston” or Captain Steel etc. Class 13 always irked me but I settled on the idea that Egon probably wrote his own classification system by 1997 like he did his own Spirit Guide. ---
**Author:** ![Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/massacci/32/269_2.png) [@Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Massacci)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/11 "2011-03-31T03:25:42Z")
Ok. Ive finished my first draft of my version of the classification system. What Im going to do is post by class, and then take your thoughts and criticism on that class, then post the next one. CLASS I: Poltergeists. Minor spirits that take no form or shape of their own, but manifest themselves through interaction with the surrounding environment or the possession of inanimate objects. (I.E. strange sounds, lights switching on and off, floating chairs, dancing toasters, etc.) CLASS I also governs supernatural secretions and psycho kinetic occurences. (I.E. [ectoplasmic residue](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/games/ghostbusters-the-video-game/ghosts/ectoplasmic-residue), transdimensional portals, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/mrmichaelt/32/187196_2.png) [@mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/mrmichaelt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/12 "2011-03-31T03:32:57Z")
> [@Massacci](#): > > Ok. Ive finished my first draft of my version of the classification system. What Im going to do is post by class, and then take your thoughts and criticism on that class, then post the next one. CLASS I: Poltergeists. Minor spirits that take no form or shape of their own, but manifest themselves through interaction with the surrounding environment or the possession of inanimate objects. (I.E. strange sounds, lights switching on and off, floating chairs, dancing toasters, etc.) CLASS I also governs supernatural secretions and psycho kinetic occurences. (I.E. ectoplasmic residue, transdimensional portals, etc.) Great start! My only critique is using “Poltergeists” since different types of Poltergeists were fought in RGB such as in “[Slimer, Come Home](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/real-ghostbusters/slimer-come-home)” and “Cry, Uncle” who were definitely not Class I’s. ---
**Author:** ![Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/massacci/32/269_2.png) [@Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Massacci)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/13 "2011-03-31T04:15:22Z")
Well as I stated before, Im not considering RGB or EGB as canon. Im only going by the films and the game as Im trying to establish the most realistic version of the classification system as possible. By realistic definition, poltergeist fits the description of CLASS I, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/mrmichaelt/32/187196_2.png) [@mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/mrmichaelt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/14 "2011-03-31T04:18:29Z")
> [@Massacci](#): > > Well as I stated before, Im not considering RGB or EGB as canon. Im only going by the films and the game as Im trying to establish the most realistic version of the classification system as possible. By realistic definition, poltergeist fits the description of CLASS I, in my opinion. Fair enough. I honestly can’t think of anything else at the moment. Probably right after I sign out. ---
**Author:** ![Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/massacci/32/269_2.png) [@Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Massacci)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/15 "2011-03-31T19:44:04Z")
This is where one of my major adjustments comes in. I didnt agree at all with the GBI system classifying lower life forms as CLASS VI, as it made no logical sense whatsoever, so I reassigned it to this classification. CLASS II: Spiritus Animailas. These spirits are primarily the imprint of a deceased animal life form. They often appear as ectoplasmic apparitions, but also have been known to possess simple objects and then force them into a rough copy of their original physical form. ---
**Author:** ![Darkness](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@Darkness](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Darkness)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/16 "2011-03-31T23:29:53Z")
Hm, okay your Class I description looks pretty good considering your basis. Class II looks okay too. I know I’m kind of jumping the gun a little, but although you’re not using RGB and EGB classifications as canon for this, will you be using certain entities like [Marduk](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/marduk), [Tiamat](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/tiamat) or Cathulhu? ---
**Author:** ![Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/massacci/32/269_2.png) [@Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Massacci)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/17 "2011-04-01T14:50:16Z")
Any direct content that was in either RGB or EGB will not be represented in this classification system. I won’t be mentioning any specific beings or entities except for broad generalizations used as examples. I’m aiming for the most realistic approach possible. I want to make the system seem like something a paranormal investigator could use in the real world as well as the Ghostbuster films and realistic video game. ---
**Author:** ![Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/massacci/32/269_2.png) [@Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Massacci)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/18 "2011-04-01T15:35:00Z")
The next 3 classes Im going to post are virtually identical to the ones used in the RPG classification system. Ive only just reworded them to sound more professional and scientific. CLASS III: Homo Spiritus Identits Ignotus. Unidentified human ectoplasmic entities. Distinct human form and/or personality is evident, but former identity as a living person is not established. Class III entities can range from spectral appendages to full-bodied apparitions. ---
**Author:** ![Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/massacci/32/269_2.png) [@Massacci](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Massacci)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/19 "2011-04-03T13:39:46Z")
I find it odd that several people claimed to be “very interested” in what I come up with in this thread, but don’t bother to post again. Perhaps I’m just impatient. ---
**Author:** ![fritz](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/fritz/32/10773_2.png) [@fritz](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/fritz)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717/20 "2011-04-03T16:27:45Z")
Lol…sorry. I just haven’t come up with anything really worth saying yet. [Next page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/ghost-classification-system/13717.md?page=2)