Flagbearer and a buckler

[ShieldBug]

Hi ho good people of the internet,

I'm just putting the finishing touches on my first PFS character before they reach level 2, and have a quick question about the flagbearer feat:

Flagbearer:

As long as you hold your clan, house, or party’s flag, members of that allegiance within 30 feet who can see the flag (including yourself ) gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, and saving throws against fear and charm effects. You must hold the flag in one hand in order to grant this bonus. If the standard is taken by the enemy or destroyed, this bonus becomes a penalty, affecting all creatures that the bonus previously affected for 1 hour (or until you reclaim the lost flag).

I plan to hold the banner in one hand (it looks so darn heroic with a sword in the other) and was kind of hoping that I would be able to wear a buckler in the same hand. I'm starting to think that it might not be possible, but I have to ask because, with enchantments, it could be so handy. Does anyone know the ruling on this?

Also, if the buckler is a no go, would the improvised defense trait be a way to at least get a +1 to AC? That is, would the flag count as an improvised weapon?

Improvised defense:

Whenever you wield an improvised weapon, you gain a +1 shield bonus to AC. If you use the improvised weapon to attack, you lose this shield bonus until the beginning of your next turn.

[James Risner]

If you hold the flag and buckler in the same hand, but don't attack with the flag as an improvised weapon you keep the AC.

If you do attack improvisedly, you lose the AC.

If you have the trait, many will say you are good even if you don't attack.
You may have table variance on that point.

[ShieldBug]

Excellent! Thanks man.

[Catharsis]

Has there ever been an official ruling on this? I see different opinions in different threads.

My take on this is that, by the description, it is enough to hold the flag in your hand to use it — you need not perform any particular movements or poses. Thus, if you have a buckler on the same arm, you are free to move to defend yourself as needed, and should get the buckler's bonus to AC.

[Magda Luckbender]

@Catharsis: Most people seem to agree with your take. That's how it plays for the various Flagbearer PCs I've observed in action. What's the question?

[Catharsis]

Magda Luckbender wrote:

@Catharsis: Most people seem to agree with your take. That's how it plays for the various Flagbearer PCs I've observed in action. What's the question?

If there’s a consensus, that answers my question. :) Thanks!