Strength tiers

In addition to the color band classification system, posters are ranked on strength tiers according to the extent and usefulness of their powers. The four strength tiers are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, with Alphas being the rarest and most powerful and Deltas being the most common and most limited in the extent of their abilities.
==Alpha==
Alphas are defined as having powers that are either self-generating or not limited by their environment, and that are rarely exhaustible. Only 2% of posters have this ranking.quipquipquip: "Things To Know About Color Band Classification"
For Alpha-level posters, Academy training is mandatory and subsidized by the government. They are the only posters cleared by the BPHA to lead multi-member teams.
==Beta==
Betas' abilities are limited by their bodies, or by the presence or absence of elements in their environment. Their power is usually only offensive or defensive; it is rarely both. Mental powers with a wider scope of manipulation often end up in this category.
To be considered for admittance to Maillardet's (and, by extension, participation on a BPHA-approved hero team) a posthuman must be classified as Beta or higher. 6% of all posters have Beta-level powers.
==Gamma==
Gammas are considered to be one-trick ponies. Their powers are usually physical-based, with limited applications. They comprise 12% of the posthuman population.
==Delta==
Deltas make up the remaining 80% of all posters. Delta-level powers are mostly useless, or extremely limited in their scope and effectiveness. It is popular and fashionable for Delta-level posters to identify the category of their power and wear that as their favorite color.
==Classification==
In the US, testing for posthuman genetic markers is mandatory at birth, and again before children are allowed to enter public schools.quipquipquip: "Things To Know About Academy Training Structure" Many abilities are limited by what the poster believes they can do, and for this reason the pre-Academy year of training at Maillardet's is essential to the growth of most posterchildren. During this time, they are given guidance in exploring the extent of their abilities and experimenting with what they might be able to do.quipquipquip: "How often, if ever, would you say a posterchild's power/level gets misidentified?" As a result of this testing, children are sorted into their perceived strength levels and color band classifications.
The strength tiers serve not only as a means of ranking posters' strength, but also as a threat level indicator. Posthumans whose powers have deadly applications are likely to receive a higher ranking, and those who have used their abilities to harm others may be re-evaluated and reclassified at a higher level.October 19 live stream, 22:34
===A flawed system===
The strength classification system tends to be biased towards males, and as a result male Alphas far outnumber female Alphas. Testers work on the logic that Alphas are expected to be team leaders, so if a child's strength level is ambiguous, testers will assess their leadership potential. This involves observing the child's interactions with others, usually during outdoor play; more aggressive and physically active children are considered leadership material. As boys tend to be socialized to be more assertive and physical at play, the system is skewed towards males.quipquipquip: "What factors make a posterchild an Alpha?"
Having been designed by humans, the system is also biased against posters who look or act differently from baseliners. Poster Defining Attributes are still broadly considered to be "deformities" and are counted as a disadvantage. For instance, Ofelia D's power of hydrokinesis is almost always considered an Alpha power, but she is considered a Beta due to her sea lion physiology, which prevents her from passing as human.quipquipquip: "Things To Know About Ofelia D"
==References==
Category:Posthumans
Category:Posthuman terminology