Since this was the first thing i actually completed for my side project, it'd be silly to not put it up.

It may not seem that important, but an explorer's badge is more than just a shiny piece of colored metal. Firstly it's proof of Guild membership and conveys their team's rank, which shows how much experience they have. Secondly, many of the shops and businesses in towns where guildhouses are located will give explorers special deals upon seeing that badge (the badge owner's name and Guild ID are engraved on the back of each one to prevent fakers from abusing this). And finally, each one contains a microtransmitter that can be activated in case of an emergency, which makes locatiing someone who's hurt or in trouble that much quicker. New recruits are taught very early to take good care of their badge and be very careful to never lose it, as it might one day save their lives.

Everyone starts out as a Recruit, of course. At this point a newly signed explorer goes through a rather extensive training course to learn the basics and finer points of how to not get hopelessly lost or killed out in the middle of nowhere. It's also a way to weed out those who aren't committed enough to do what a career like this requires. Roughly half of those who sign up tend to leave at this point, usually discouraged by finding out they aren't going to be hunting for treasure as soon as they walk in the door.

After finishing the training course (which is about 3 months long, shorter if you prove you already have a handle on some of the required skills), explorers are granted full status and moved up to Standard rank, where they can start their own exploration team or try to join an existing one. Most often they choose to start their own team with friends they've made during training, since getting onto an established team can be difficult when you haven't really proven yourself yet. Standard rank teams usually stay in their home region, so that they can gain some experience without being sent too far from home.

As an exploration team gains experience and reputation, their rank gradually increases to Bronze, Silver and then Gold rank, and they find themselves taking on jobs that are more important, more dangerous and often more lucrative. Starting at Silver rank, a team may also request that another team of lower rank accompany them to assist on missions. On average, a team gains a rank increase every 2-3 years, depending on how active they are and provided they don't suffer any major setbacks. Particularly noteworthy accomplishments may raise a team's rank much faster than usual. However, Gold rank is the highest that a team can advance through normal progression... from that point on, an exploration team will have to do something outstanding to catch the Guildmaster's attention and earn a promotion to the more exclusive ranks.

Those who have displayed superior ability and accomplishments are awarded Diamond rank, and are tasked with handling the "heavy stuff". These veteran teams take on the jobs that would be outside the scope of lower ranked exploration teams, and often have large-scale effects depending on their outcome. Diamond rank teams are also considered trustworthy enough to establish and maintain "exploration bases", which are special facilities out on the fringes of the wild that all exploration teams use as a jumping-off point into the more remote areas of the world.

Teams that are proficient enough to reach Super rank have proven many times that they are among the best of the best, and were likely involved directly in some of the greatest achievements in the Guild's long history. As such they're usually considered to be highly valuable, and are assigned to be in charge of the guildhouses in each region. As overseeing these places is a full-time job in itself, Super rank teams aren't out in the field that often unless it's absolutely necessary.

Hyper rank is the Guild's equivalent of giving someone a gold watch on retirement. These teams have been around for decades and there's very little they haven't seen. Like Super rank teams they assist in running the guildhouses, but since the average age of Hyper rank teams is late 50's to early 60's, it's very rare to see anyone of this rank out on a mission except in the most dire of circumstances.

Though primarily reserved for Guildmasters and their teammates, Master rank has also been awarded posthumously on four occasions to exploration teams who seflessly gave their lives to prevent what could have become global disasters. Their actions are considered the stuff of legends, and anyone who rightfully holds this rank commands the utmost respect of those both inside and outside the Guild's organization.