Most Tactics require the squadmate to be "affected by your commander's banner." The Commander's Banner description says that the the emotion, mental, and visual traits apply to "this effect" (which I assume is the +1 status bonus against fear effects and the Frightened effect when the banner gets destroyed or stolen).
Although the visual trait might seem restricted to that effect, I think it's a fair reading that "affected" by your commander's banner also means they must be able to see the banner, but of course it is a visual thing.
Meanwhile, the "Tactics" section says you may convey your tactic through a verbal command (auditory) or a wave of your banner (visual). To me, the intention here seems to conflict with the requirement that they be "affected" by the banner.
In another thread, I wondered why the language isn't like what we see with the Marshal archetype's aura, which simply requires that a target be "within your marshal's aura." This doesn't require that they be "affected," simply that they be in its radius.
If there's something I'm not considering, definitely please enlighten me. Thanks!
(EDIT: Also, I didn't want to make yet another thread about this, but I find the name of the Banner trait confusing. Many effects require you to have a banner but don't have this trait. The trait is more about committing a hand to the banner. I was wondering if a word like "signal" might be more accurate, suggesting you need a hand to convey the tactic?)
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I agree that in order to be affected by a banner, you need to be in range of its aura and able to see it.
Meanwhile, the "Tactics" section says you may convey your tactic through a verbal command (auditory) or a wave of your banner (visual). To me, the intention here seems to conflict with the requirement that they be "affected" by the banner.
I don't think this is a contradiction, because there is no requirement that the Commander is in the same location as the Banner (it could be planted or on the Commander's Steed). This wording allows the Commander to be at a great distance or invisible and still be issuing tactics verbally to squadmates around the Banner.
I agree that in order to be affected by a banner, you need to be in range of its aura and able to see it.
Meanwhile, the "Tactics" section says you may convey your tactic through a verbal command (auditory) or a wave of your banner (visual). To me, the intention here seems to conflict with the requirement that they be "affected" by the banner.I don't think this is a contradiction, because there is no requirement that the Commander is in the same location as the Banner (it could be planted or on the Commander's Steed). This wording allows the Commander to be at a great distance or invisible and still be issuing tactics verbally to squadmates around the Banner.
Interesting. To be clearer, the contradiction I was talking about was how the Tactic trait (I misspoke and said "Tactics section" earlier), which says your Tactic has EITHER the auditory or visual trait, suggests that the intention is for you to make your effect rely on one of these senses only. But "affected by your banner" now means that, if you choose to yell out the command, your Tactic seems to gain an "unnecessary" extra trait, giving it less "reach." The invisibility example you raise makes clear that you do want to yell out sometimes though. So very helpful.
Part of what throws me off is that the Plant Your Banner feat clearly and specifically spells out that you may only visually signal with your banner, and not with a hand signal. But that contradicts the language of the Tactic trait itself, which only says you "typically" visually signal by waving your banner.
Watch out for abilities (I think there's a couple in archetypes) that give you emotion immunity, you won't be affected by the banner and drop out of being affected by a lot of commander abilities.
Part of what throws me off is that the Plant Your Banner feat clearly and specifically spells out that you may only visually signal with your banner, and not with a hand signal. But that contradicts the language of the Tactic trait itself, which only says you "typically" visually signal by waving your banner.
Wait, what??
While your banner is planted, you can signal your tactics abilities only with auditory signals (instead of your choice of auditory or visual).
Tactics are able to be signaled by audible cues or by waving your banner. Possibly by hand signals as long as you are also holding your banner prominently (hand signals being allowed is a bit ambiguous, but is also a bit moot since you still have to have the banner in-hand).
The Plant Banner feat lets you still use your Tactics while the banner is planted, but at that point you can't use hand signals or wave the banner because you aren't holding the banner. Only verbal signals work while the banner is planted.
As far as the original question, I mostly agree with this:
I agree that in order to be affected by a banner, you need to be in range of its aura and able to see it.
Though I would go so far as to say that it would follow the normal line of effect rules.
The Plant Banner feat lets you still use your Tactics while the banner is planted, but at that point you can't use hand signals or wave the banner because you aren't holding the banner. Only verbal signals work while the banner is planted.
Just to clarify for those who need it (may not include you), many of the stronger tactics include the banner trait. Those (and only those) can't be used at all while Plant Banner is in use. Tactics without the banner trait can be used audibly (but not visually) while it's planted.
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given that tactics can already be given audibly as well as visually.
Which might similarly be a problem for deaf characters.
While the banner is planted, the only option is audible signals...
But perhaps that is something that should be worked out at each table. Maybe a sidebar about it though, rather than trying to tinker with the rules text.
Just to clarify for those who need it (may not include you), many of the stronger tactics include the banner trait. Those (and only those) can't be used at all while Plant Banner is in use. Tactics without the banner trait can be used audibly (but not visually) while it's planted.
I hadn't noticed that. It is a good note to make.