I like the idea of having maybe a minimum of 5 players to actually receiving a squad buff, that basically means your squad needs to be at least half full. So why not do the same for companies as well? The purpose of the buffs should be to encourage squad playstyle, it should be a reward not something that's owed just because you have a curtain on your back. The buff is there to symbolize your dedication/loyalty to your squad.

So what happens if 6/10 of your squad get killed in combat? Or out of nowhere 6/10 squad members have a game crash? While your banner bearer along with his 3 squad mates are still fighting? Should they be punished and lose their buff because they're the only ones still alive or still online?

What if you have a 94 man strike force? That last squad with only 4 players, shouldn't they be able to field a banner like the other squads? They're participating in group play just like everyone else, it's not their fault that there aren't enough players online to fill their squad.

Adding restrictions or requirements on banners according to the size of your squad and/or strike force isn't viable with the ever changing environment and the ebb and flow of player population numbers in open world PVP.

Implementing tried and tested INDIVIDUAL buff rules and restrictions is much more reasonable. ie You can only have 2 banner buffs and 1 personal buff(from support characters) applied to your character at any given time. You can NEVER have more than a total of 3 buffs applied to your character. Buffs of the same type will NEVER stack and are NOT cumulative. (ie Two separate +1 Wounds buffs does not mean you get +2 Wounds, since buffs cannot stack the end result will be +1 Wounds regardless)

Actually, looking at the last livestream talk where Brent explained the buffs, he said they are looking at 3-5 buffs or debuffs being the amount they are going for, and thats without the actual banners (which are still limited to 1 buff). So supports wont be that limited in buffing/debuffing.

At 53:20:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62YqqB3sCew&list=UUxH-BQF2CRQV6lXTf41xEeg

Banner shouldn't be restricted.... if people want to look pretty with it let them....
We won't be marching in order, the comprisal of classes wont match any codex, we will just be fighting our enemies - whomever they may be at the time.
There will be a war, not a chess board or parade ground....

If it helps consider that the squads are comprised of the remnants of other squads that have survived earlier battles, the comprisal will be suitably 'motley'

An idea to stop the banner blocking your screen would be for it to be strapped diagonally across your back. Then when you want to activate a moral boast or whatever you can pull it off, and hold it in your hand as a standard bearer. This means you can fight or hold a banner depending on circumstances.

I like this idea. You could select if you want to pistol or blade in your other hand
Alternatively, depending on the game engine you could make them more and more see through the closer you are if you wanted a constant buff but I do like that idea.

To those who want a scaling buff: it already is. Since the bearer is sacrificing a portion of his power in order to make those around him better, the more people who are getting the buff, the more worth it is

If they make the banners expensive enough to fit then we shouldn't see 10, 2 man squads each with a banner. Since they will only sacrifice the points for it if its going to help 9 guys, or they really love the crap out of flags.

Add some way for squad leaders to broadcast nearby that they have space and what buff they are using. To prevent spamming, make it a UI element that you have to toggle on to view. There will be a few drama queens that sit crying about how no one wants their flag but it should level out.