Updated Ghostbuster Gear Ideas

Ghostbusters Discussion General Ghostbusters Discussion
1

For Ghostbusting in the 2010s!

Look, I love the original gear. We all do. That’s why we’re here. This is a “what if” scenario just for fun.

Imagine you’ve been hired to work on GBIII and have been put in charge of re-designing the Ghostbusting gear into something that might believably be used in the iphone-era, but without loosing that distinctive Ghostbusters feel. How would you go about it? What would you do?

Here’s my own thoughts. Keep in mind I’m not an engineer or electrician or anything.

Headsets - I can see the Ecto-Goggles being heavily modified, and given microphones and earpieces so you can communicate with your team without using one hand to operate a radio. They’d probably contain google-glass style feedback screens and a wide array of sensors. I’m not sure, but this new headset might absorb the role of the PKE meter as well by always scanning the environment automatically… which would make me sad, because the PKE Meter is one of my favorite gadgets. But if there’s a more efficient, hands-free way to get the same information, then… remember it takes two hands to operate a neutrino wand.

I wonder how many sensors you could actually fit on this headset though. Even with microchip technology, I imagine you’d be wearing some pretty substantial gear on your head. You might wind up looking like a robot’s attached itself to your face.

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Ghost traps - these are still fundementally the same, just more efficient. They’re wireless, and they automatically detect the presence of both proton blasts and ghost vibrations and open automatically when a ghost is close enough, like they did in the video game. Going from the video game, it’s also possible that car-mounted Muon traps, which can be left open and used multiple times, are a thing as well, though I doubt they are very common.

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The Proton Pack - This I actually can’t see changing very much. The fundamental physics that power them isn’t going to change in 30 years, though it’s possible advances in metallurgy, plastics, 3D printing, wiring, and circuitry have changed what they are made of and how they are constructed. They’ve probably been adjusted to be lighter and more menouverable as well…though that’s not saying much. It’s possible there are smaller variants like the arm-mounted design that was floated by the comic, but I can’t see those becoming standard. I just don’t think a unit that small could get the particles accelerated fast enough to really replace the back-mounted boxes, especially since more and more gear has probably been added to the original design, like the slime blower.

What do you think? How would you update the gear, if you had to? How would you modernize the traps, packs, and goggles? And what do you think that belt gizmo really does?

Again, I love the original stuff. This is just for fun.

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I personally think the only thing for me that maybe needs an upgrade is the goggles and the muon trap. :cool:

3

aw, c’mon, at least upgrade from hand-held radios to a bluetooth ear piece. You want to still be able to talk when your hands are full!

4

Oh that’s what I meant by the headset replacing the walkie talkie! What kind of headset was that I might use it for my costume just without a proton pack :blush:

5

Well the headset would have to be designed. If I were in charge (and that’s the whole point of this thread: pretending you’re in charge) I’d model it after the “Afterglow” headsets just because the short, rectangular mic paired with the glowing LED band and core look, well…really badass.

But this is a factory-made thing and one of the most endearing things about Ghostbusters is how obvious it is that they design, construct, and then use their own gear (if you can’t make a proton pack, you can’t be trusted to use one… Venkman excluded). So I’d keep the basic outline, but add new parts and make it clear this was a thing that had been constructed, not “made.” And of course it’d need a visor with a feedback display.

6

I’ve actually given this a lot of thought recently. The packs, I can see there being a few versions of them. Let’s start with the traps.

Those I don’t think they’d change at all, like you said. They’d still be the same basic design from 84, but with the goodies from the video game built in. Wireless, built in PKE sensor to open when an entity is close enough that kind of thing. I would assume that to keep things simple, they wouldn’t want to redesign the traps TOO much or else they would need to alter the ECUs in order to accept any new design they came up with… which could be problematic if it’s currently in use. Way more effective than what we’ve seen in use in the movies, the game, and the comic series.

Proton Packs… these I can see having SEVERAL renditions over the years. Hell, even between 1984 and 1989 there were some changes made to them, a few more by 1991, and so on through the 90s. By modern day, I still see them being backpack styled, but lighter weight. Definitely see them still having a larger thrower and a smaller, secondary thrower. These would be pretty light compared to the original models, maybe around 15-20 pounds tops. As far as the other functions of the experimental pack from the game… besides boson darts, which are just a variation of the standard proton tech, the other functions are basically abandoned by the mid-ninties. I’m guessing by this point, Egon and Ray decided that these other functions were superfluous and only added more weight to the packs with little gain after the Shandor incident. If there’s a need for mason or dark matter equipment, I would guess each franchise would have a small number of dedicated equipment for this.

PKE meters. Smaller than what we’re familiar with. Hell, maybe something like a smart phone or even built into a cell phone or a device worn on the forearm. Similar functionality to how the meter worked in the video game. Entity locator, field readings showing class and possible supernatural abilities/traits drawing on both an internet database and a more basic internal database if wfi isn’t available. These would also incorporate the scanning abilities of the Giga, KUD, and any of the other specialized meters we’ve seen between 1989 and the comics thus far.

Ecto goggles (I refuse to call them paragoggles… just doesn’t sound right). These I don’t see changing much at all. They’re kind of limited in use as is and I never really thought of them as “everyday” field equipment.

Slime blower: just touching on this as it’s the second most familiar piece of equipment next to the proton pack. I don’t see these changing too much. if at all. I mean, they’re big, they’re clunky, but everything is like that because it HAS to be. You have the primary storage tank, the propellant tanks and the blow itself. There’s really no way to reduce the size of this thing without hindering the effectiveness of the unit.

Ectomobiles: sadly, not every franchise can have a 1959 hearse. I see most franchises using SUVs or vans for their company vehicles. Roof equipment would be much more streamlined and smaller than the classic Ecto-1 look. Let’s face it, a most SUVs and vans are bricks on wheels, not exactly aerodynamic, and that roof equipment won’t help any. Streamlining the roof gear, making it lower profile and light will help in fuel consumption, which IS something a corporation would factor into when vehicle shopping.

And finally, the uniforms. No change overall. Different color options for employees, but still your classic jumpsuit.

7

For what it’s worth, in the video game, Venkman has a line where he applauds the Rookie for being able to climb over a wall with “100 lbs” of gear on his back. He MIGHT have been exaggerating, considering the weight of the packs or…it might be true that a fully equiped early-1990s Ghostbuster with a fully-upgraded (if experimental) proton pack really IS carrying 100lbs worth of gear. Which is … insane. I know that’s more then half of my entire body weight…

One thing I think all packs would keep is the integrated slime blower. These are basically all you use during the Library level, the Slime Tether is one of the best weapons in the whole game, and it’s the one thing that can get rid of black slime, close gates and clean up contaminated areas. The stasis stream was never that useful, or the yellow missle thing I never used, but I doubt the technology would have been discarded entirely, probably just implemented in different ways. I can’t really see the technology being separated and de-integrated (that’d be like taking google maps out of your iphone), but I can see it’s functionality being considered as it’s prioritized.

It’s possible that there are the lighter packs that are -just- dedicated to proton and capture tech, where the priority is you need a functional stream in as portable a package as possible. This light pack will have a comparatively weak stream and wrangling ghosts will be extra hard, but it will WORK, and when you’re in a pinch, the human element is expected to fill in for the equipment’s shortcomingings.

And at the same time there are the full-upgraded, four-function, slime integrated, totally tripped-out proton packs. These are bigger, bulkier, more powerful, and fully loaded with different tech for every contingency. They are also as heavy as anything from the 80s. And I’d bet that these, sadly, are usually what your garden variety Ghostbuster on a garden variety bust gets armed with. Home office likes to cover their bases for safety reasons, and the light packs are useful, but too limited in their functionality to be standard-issue busting gear. More likely the light packs would be used for missions where the full-sized packs werent practical, like crawling around a cave, or attending a fancy dinner-party. Or maybe the most athletic, mobile person in the franchise would be issued the light pack, so they have one person who can climb, jump, or run if the terrain turns out to be diffcult.

8

Man that is a lot to read. I’ll have to go back and read later.

My thought though, is ‘Franchise Pack’.

If the GB ever did branch out as a franchise, which I think would be cool as a story, they would probably go the way of McDonalds and have mass produced equipment. That would mean stream lined, sleek packs. I think the best way for them to have the same feel is if these new packs are made by the lowest bidder, hence glitchy. Franchise packs would look sleek, except for the personal rewiring GB’s would make just to get them working.

Imagine, an artificially intelligent trap that talks to you.

Trap

“Class 3 Detected, recalibrating containment settings”

Ray

“Hey wait, wasn’t that a class 5?”

Winston

“Oh ■■■■!”

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To paraphrase a previous line “AWWW SHIT, what do we do, Ray?”

10

I like the modified/mass produced idea, but I’d adjust it to incorporate the “Detroit Ghostbusters” idea an actual functional pack is too dangerous to ship, even when switched off, so what new franchises get sent is a kit, which they have to assemble themselves, on site

Don’t worry, there’s a manual. It’s 8,670 pages and written in about seven languages, three of which haven’t been spoken in a few thousand years, but if you want to be GhostBuster, you should already be familiar with Ancient Sumaritan, Persian, German, Latin, Old English, Egyptian Hieroglyphic transcriptions in Dutch…

… Or there’s just the English one, you know, if that’s too much work.

So, yeah, just follow the instructions and you’ll be fine.

And (this is just me having fun here) It’s not legal to use these packs in the field until they’ve been “inspected” which is by far the most inconvenient part of the process.

Step 1: receive kit (they come special delivery by armored vehicle).

Step 2: translate instructions

Step 3: Assemble Pack

Step 4: take pack to a very remote area (PCOC representative must approve of the location and be present for the test.

  • There is a remote valley in Utah that is dedicated JUST to this. It’s unofficially called the “Proving Grounds” and someday, scientists of the future will go insane trying to understand the weirdness in the plant, animal, and mineral deposits there

Step 5: Turn pack ON for the first time.

Step 6: Fire pack at target.

Step 7: Don’t be dead after steps five and six.

Step 8: Congratulations! Your bouncing baby proton pack is ready for use!

  • also, since I think a lot of this gear carries risk of sterility, the first thing any man or woman has to do when they sign up, before they ever even get near a pack, is visit a sperm/egg bank. It doesn’t matter if you’re a young dude who’s sure you aren’t ever going to want kids, or an older person who already has some, your juice needs to be on file in case you ever again decide you want to reproduce. No, it’s not dignified. Yes, you have to do it anyway. It’s company policy.
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What if the belt gizmo warns of radiation danger, and the leg hose feeds ionized gas into the suit to act as a rad barrier, preventing such threats?

I’d like to see the traps rounded out, with retractable handles. That way if you throw them on their side they automatically roll right side up. And they wouldn’t dig into your leg as much when running

12

I like it! And maybe they lost the hose in GBII because the packs are better shielded now and gas leaks were a possible fire hazard?

They should have floats installed as well (taking this idea from the LAGBs) just in case you’re busting out in a swamp or by a lake, river, or somewhere else without solid ground on which to throw the trap. This is also defense in cases where a trap is washed overboard or dropped in a bathtub or something else stupid like that.

Any design modifications that make the equipment easier to work are welcome. Remember, this stuff has had 30 years of field testing. A Ghostbuster should at least be able to run without beating themselves senseless with their own gear.

Or then again, maybe not.

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the picture you showed of the headset (not the green glowing one) what kind was it? (Its for a GB costume)

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That would be a headset visor (http://www.headsetvisor.com/) a thing I think is usually used by helicopter pilots. It’s basically a normal mic-headphone combo with sunglasses built into it

But if I were actually going to use one of these, I’d modify it. I don’t think the GBs, in any decade, should use off-the-shelf stuff. They make their gear. This headset would be subbing for Ecto-goggles, the PKE meter, and the radio, so there’d be some kind of feedback display inside the visor possibly displaying the locations of your teammates, the areas of highest electrical disturbances, the status of your gear and other useful information.

Of course, where there is computerization, there will be glitches. So basically you’re trading the inconvenience of having to constantly switch out which device you’re holding for the inconvenience of not knowing your team-member has been eaten by a snor because their sensors weren’t calibrated for beings from the fifteenth dimension. Or a team-member who bonks their head on a tree-branch suddenly shows up on everyone’s screens as decapitated because a sensor has been knocked loose. That kind of thing.

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Here’s the sketch from that Franchise Trap concept:

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Looks awesome. Give us a little more information about the trap. Why the design and such.

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Remember when we said the uniforms themselves probably wouldn’t change?That’s still true, but for a corporation that operates in many different climates, sometimes you need options.

So…seasonal uniforms. :nicejobyoudid:

Summer Uniform

These would be light-weight, probably light-colored, and have short sleeves/pant legs. These are for places like Florida, LA, California, New Mexico, and anywhere else when the climate is warm and humid. Also included in this uniform are baseball hats, fingerless gloves, lighter hiking boots (instead of the standard army boots), and sunglasses with the “no ghost” logo on the side. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Standard Uniform

The normal flight-suits we love, these are the most versatile and widely-used. Khaki remains the default coloration, but there are other colors available. These are the go-to uniforms unless it’s known ahead of time that the team will be spending long hours outside in either very hot or cold weather. It doesn’t matter how warm the summer is: no one wants to be crawling around a damp, muddy catacomb in their shorts. So keep some spare uniforms in the Ecto, just in case.

Winter Uniform

Designed for the Buster working in sub-zero temperatures, the Winter Uniform is dark-colored and made of warm, dense, waterproof fabric. Also included are heavy snow boots, insulating gloves lined with wool, wool knit caps, and scarves with the “no ghost” logo on them. Provide your own long underwear and extra-thick socks. And remember, your mother doesn’t work here, so if you don’t wash those socks, no one else is going to.

Foul Weather Gear*

These can be worn with any variation of the uniform. Basically it’s a rain-slicker designed to fit over a Proton Pack. It looks a bit like an unholy cross between a trench coat and a trash bag, but it keeps the rain off, has your name across the left breast (company policy mandates a nametag be visible at all times) and comes with it’s own wide-brimmed rain-hat with the “No Ghost” logo on it.

*NOTE this item of equipment went out of favor after an overheating pack caused it to melt. There has been some talk about re-producing the design with another, more melt-resistant material, but since rain does not, in fact, affect usability of the packs since water-proof sealing has become standard, then for the most part personnel have chosen to take the dousing rather then risk another accident. The hats are still in use though, and many choose to customize them with pins and colorful bands. Very popular in rainy areas like Seattle.

I’ll, uh, work on getting images for these.

What do you guys think?

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I could see a bigger, less portable “Proton cannon” being mounted on vehicles to handle larger entities.

19

Some good possiblities. Maybe just have a jacket that features a removable liner and removable fur collar like some law enforcement agencies use. But I like where you are going with this.

20

Maybe with a customized vehicle for it. Seems like later on the cartoon went this route a lot. I would love to see some concept art of it!