Power Classifications

A Power Classification is a system of categorising, rating and quickly summarising a Supers special abilitites. There are multiple classification systems in use around the world.

Department of Superhuman Affairs

The Department of Superhuman Affairs, the USA's main bureau tasked with managing the country's superhuman affairs uses not one, but three different desgination systems.

Category & Threat Assessment Designations^[1]

Currently and most frequently used are the Category & Threat Assessment Designations (CTAD), or colloquially just referred to as "Classification". Developed by John McCrae in 2011, it divides superpowers into different categories based on not their effect, but the type of response needed in order to deal with threats posed by supers with such abilities. These categories (of which a super can possess more than one) are graded on a number scale that indicates the level of threat and appropriate response.
The categories are as follows:

Classification	Meaning
Blaster	A ranged, offensive ability.
Breaker	An ability that allows the cape to shift into another state.
Brute	An ability that grants enhanced strenght or durability.
Changer	An ability that allows the capte to alter their form or appearance.
Master	An ability that allows a cape to control others or create minions.
Mover	An ability that enhances movement.
Shaker	An ability with an area of effect.
Stranger	An ability that focuses on stealth or infiltration.
Striker	An ability that is melee-ranged or touch-based.
Thinker	An ability that focuses on information gathering.
Tinker	An ability that allows a cape to create or alter devices with futuristic technology.
Trump	An ability that allows a cape to manipulate powers in some capacity.

The numerical scale ranges from 1, which signifies as a threat just above average human level, all the way up to a theoretical 15, which designates threats to humanity, though no designation higher than 12 has ever been assigned.

Threat Rating System

Used all the way up to the late 90s and still sometimes used to desginate that threat of super teams is the Threat Rating System (TRS) created in 1983 by the Department of Superhuman Affairs. It does not seek to classify powers, but was to serve as a guideline for the local authorities on how to deal with a dangerous super's presence in their community.
The threat levels are as follows:

Threat_Level	Description
Omega	Lowest level threat. Can be considered unpowered in terms of engagement. Usually low-powered supers who can’t use their powers on short notice fall here.
Sigma	Low-level supers which can be restrained and engaged by professional normals without any special equipment or education (aka. a normal police force).
Rho	Low-level supers with powers capable of resisting arrest from normally equipped police force. Might be resistant to conventional forms of damage, able to circumvent engagement or be otherwise problematic. Can be dealt with by specially prepared and instructed normals.
Omicron	At this point, engagement by any normals below AS-SWAT teams is considered pointless. However, an AS-SWAT team is considered enough to subdue them. Starting at Omicron-level, supers will not be incarcerated in normal facilities as a rule of thumb, instead being sent to designated super wards or specialised super containment facilities.
Nu	As before, but an AS-SWAT team is considered at a heavy disadvantage while still being able to deal with the target. Super support is heavily encouraged.
Lambda	Also called the "fireline", aka. fighting fire with fire. From this point on, normals are considered useless and are classified as civilians in any engagement, no matter their preparation, equipment or training. Most precogs starts at this level, as well as most combat-type supers that can evade or circumvent normal capture methods with their powers. Usually, specialised super-tech is needed to effectively restrain them and keep them incarcerated.
Iota	Weaker high-level supers fall here. Can usually be engaged and held at bay by a similarly powered super in a one-on-one situation. Many mind-type supers falls here when they can counter each other. Low potential for collateral damage.
Zeta	High-level supers. Can reasonably engage multiple supers at once in combat. Low potential for collateral damage.
Epsilon	High-level supers with powerful abilities. Can easily engage multiple supers in combat and wreak havoc upon an entire area in the process. Often lower-level supers with high potential for collateral damage are placed here as well.
Detla	Supers with extremely powerful abilities fall here. Able to pose a threat on a city-scale, but not beyond.
Gamma	Supers with potentially devastating abilities fall here. Able to pose a threat to large areas, but possibility to contain damage to regional scale. Or lack of protection against tactical weapons which might be depolyed to deal with such threat.
Alpha	Highest threat level. Capable of posing a threat to the entirety of humanity, human society or civilisation. Super who could use their powers towards catastrophic direct or indirect damage (think a global pandemic, leveling a city regularily, etc.). Extremel different to either kill or engage. As a rule of thumb, time-travelers and dimension-shifters would be placed in this category, though none are known to exist.

The system has fallen out of favour as the multiple qualifications for each category made it only useful when talking about a super in context of their powers, not describing a super to a party unfamiliar with them.

Designated Power Description System

The Designated Power Description System (DPDS) was an attempt to fix the large information gap left by the TRS. It focuses on describing in efficient manner the abilities of a super. It splits down supers into their individual powers and designates them based on Application, Vector, Dimension and Side. Application describes the use of an ability. Vector describes the method by which it is delivered. Dimension describes the scale and range of a power. Side describes possible secondary effects.

Application	Description
[A]ltering	A power that alters the user beyond the human norm.
[C]ontrol	A power that can control other beings or create them for that purpose.
[D]efensive	A defensive power.
[E]nhancing	A power that boosts normal human capabilities beyond their usual limits.
[F]ield	A power affecting the surrounding area.
[G]enerating	A power that generates energy or matter, often with the ability to control it further.
[H]indering	A power that harms an opponent indirectly.
[M]ovement	A power that allows for unusual ways of movement.
[O]ffensive	A power that can deal direct damage to beings or objects.
[P]ower-related	A power that manipulates itself or other powers.
[R]egenerating	A power that allows healing, regeneration or recovery from high amounts of damage.
[S]enses	A power that enhances senses or adds new ones.
[T]rickery	A power deceiving the senses of other beings.
[U]tility	A power that can accomplish what normal humans would need aid for.
[N]on-classified	A power that doesn't fit any other category.

When in doubt (such as when a power fits two categories), it is always designated as the more specific one. For example, a super with enhanced vision will be designated S rather than E. Every Application is paired with a number from 1-3, describing it's overall danger or potential. A super able to heal themselves or other when focusing might be designated R1, a super with passive, fast regeneration might be designated R2, and a person capable of regenerating after sustaining deadly damage might be designated R3.

Vectors (selection)	Descripton
Self	A power affecting only the user.
Object	A power affecting only objects, not living beings.
Others	A power affecting others, but never the user.
[Ability]	A power affecting the specified ability.
[Medium]	A power delivered or acting through the specified medium.
[Part]	A power only affecting the specified part of an object or person.
[Information]	A power only dealing in the specified type of information.
[Category]	A power only affecting what falls in the specified category.
etc.

For example, a fire-breathing super might be given the designations O2[Fire]. A mind reader might be given the designation S3[Thoughts].
Dimensions are designated as M(ass), R(ange), S(peed), T(argets) and V(olume) and are added as applicable. They are rated from -3 to +3 with 0 being the "baseline" of what is expected of a given type of power. For example, a super able to fly at the speed of a bird might be given the designation M2[Flight], while a super able to fly at the speed of a plane might be designated M2[Flight]S+2.
The system has fallen more and more out of use in favour of CTAD, but is still listed in official documentations of supers.

Notes

1. This classification system was developed by author John C. McCrae for his web serial Worm. It is used in good faith and intended as both reference and show of respect, and it is simply plain useful.