Uhh, using the flag only requires one hand. Your other hand is free to do anything, including attacking or shielding yourself or casting a spell.
So yes, you can gain the benefits of this feat and still have one free hand to do anything else with. Including attacking or spellcasting or drinking a potion or whatever else. I have no idea why you think this feat requires two hands. Nothing in the feat requires a "free hand" to gain the benefits, just one hand to hold the flag.
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I'd let them use it as an improvised melee weapon too. Flag staffs can be pretty heavy.
Give your improved familiar this feat. Make a tiny Banner of the Ancient Kings.
Bonus points if your familiar has the mascot archetype.
That it can't be used on a lance is rough. Also can't be mounted in ones back like the classic samurai look is pretty disappointing too.
It seems a huge limitation to put in a feat that would otherwise be a reasonable pick... As it stands it would at best be a trait.
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How would a familiar get this feat though?Give your improved familiar this feat. Make a tiny Banner of the Ancient Kings.
Bonus points if your familiar has the mascot archetype.
Flagbearer is a combat feat, so you can share it with your familiar as an eldritch guardian.
Pole must be at least 8' long.
For my home games I allow the flag to be mounted on longspears, lances and similar weapons. Banner of Ancient Kings is a decent precedent, as is the artwork for Alain.
Maybe not entirely RAW, but I think it's a reasonable ruling.
I'm in pfs land :(
I prefer to just get a Candle of Invocation for my familiar instead. Making it light it during the start of combat.
Is this item legal for PFS?
It is, but PFS has a specific restriction that prevents familiars from activating any magic items (with the exception that a small list of them can use wands).
Good to know, guess I'll have to use a standard action myself, then.
you don't need your hands for Unarmed strikes.
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I like to combine the flagbearer feat with the improvised defence trait.
As long as you have your flag (which is an improvised weapon) in your hand and don't attack with it you gain a +1 shield bonus to AC.
Flagbearer + Dawnflower Dervish... or Inspired Blade... or any other one-handed combatant... You're welcome.
Most of the time, the characters taking Flagbearer are going to be mostly support personnel anyway. The steep Charisma requirements make this an ideal feat for a bard, sorcerer, oracle, summoner, skald, etc. For the standard front-line fighter or barbarian, yes, this feat is abysmal. Those same fighters/barbarians will love you for having this feat though.
Also, here's the relevant text about the flag. Nothing in that means that you must have a free hand in addition to the hand with which you're holding the flag. It simply means that you cannot carry a flag and wield a two-handed weapon. It means you must have a free hand that you use to carry the flag. If the rules required you to use both hands to carry the flag the text would specifically state that it requires two hands to carry; however, it does not. Ergo, you only need one hand free to carry the flag which leaves another hand free. Hopefully that clarifies things for you.
Flag: A flag is a colorful banner that bears the heraldry or symbol of a nation or organization. A character with the Flagbearer feat who bears a flag can grant additional
combat bonuses to nearby allies. Carrying a flag in combat requires a free hand.
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"I've made great use of this feat and this giant magical banner that shows my face on it. I even usually carry it in two hands, even though I don't think it's required.
Wait, you people need HANDS to cast spells? How disappointing..."
Why would holding your flag in two hands interfere with casting?
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Flagbearer + Dawnflower Dervish... or Inspired Blade... or any other one-handed combatant... You're welcome.
Note that this pretty clearly does NOT work with the banner of ancient kings. That is longspear only or a buffer character only. And what flagbearer isn't buying that banner :-)?
As you say, flagbearer is probably best with a purish buffer character. Man, though, is it wonderful with a buffer bard and a banner.
Flagbearer + Dawnflower Dervish... or Inspired Blade... or any other one-handed combatant... You're welcome.
Note that this pretty clearly does NOT work with the banner of ancient kings. That is longspear only or a buffer character only. And what flagbearer isn't buying that banner :-)?
As you say, flagbearer is probably best with a purish buffer character. Man, though, is it wonderful with a buffer bard and a banner.
Yeah, when I first saw it I thought "Huh, that's cool, but too bad it's a morale bonus - won't stack with Inspire Courage. What a shame." Then a friend pointed out that IC is a competence bonus. Strange, huh?
What it won't do is stack with the Battle Herald's Inspiring Command, which seems a little unfair given that their whole schtick is nonmagical buffing. Oh well, I'll take what I can get.
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An alchemist with vestigial arm or a synthesist with additional arms might like it... Or you change into something with many limbs, using Beast Shape / Monstrous Physique (e.g. Four-armed gargoyle).
The problem with Flagbearer as I see it, especially if/when you get the Banner of Ancient Kings, is that it's ridiculously easy to sunder a flag.
That and a mending spell means someone spent an action getting to you and another attacking you... not a bad deal
Flagbearer + Dawnflower Dervish... or Inspired Blade... or any other one-handed combatant... You're welcome.
Note that this pretty clearly does NOT work with the banner of ancient kings. That is longspear only or a buffer character only. And what flagbearer isn't buying that banner :-)?
As you say, flagbearer is probably best with a purish buffer character. Man, though, is it wonderful with a buffer bard and a banner.
Yes, if you are wanting to do the whole Banner of Ancient Kings route, then a one-handed combatant is not the way to go; however, if you're looking for a very nice all the time buff for you and your teammates as a one-handed combatant, then its a great option.
As people have said, this feat best works with banner of ancient kings, longspear, and a class with inspire.
It works great, allows you to save multiple level 3 spells per day (good hope) for use with other spells (Haste), and gets your party buffed out 1 round earlier in every combat.
My bard hands out inspire courage and haste in rnd 1 and that is all the buffing needed. Round 2 I can cast offensively or stab someone with my longspear instead of casting good hope. I get to do that all day without running out of hastes.