Difference between revisions of "Buff Banner"

From Team Fortress Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (External links)
(Damage and function times: Updated to be consistent with Battalion's)
 
(310 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Targeted}}
+
{{Redirects here|Bugle|Battalion's Backup}}
{{Weapon infobox
+
{{Featured article tag}}
| weapon-image = SoldierBuff.png
+
{{Item infobox
| used-by = [[Soldier]]
+
| type              = weapon
| weapon-slot = [[Secondary]]
+
| image             = SoldierBuff.png
| availability = Unlock, Drop, Craft, Purchase
+
| 3d-image-1        = Buff Banner
| ammo-loaded = N/A
+
| 3d-image-2        = Buff Banner Alt
| ammo-carried = N/A
+
| 3d-image-3        = Buff Banner Alt 2
| display-loadout-stats = yes
+
| 3d-image-4        = Buff Banner Alt 3
   | level-and-type = Level 5 Battle Banner
+
| 3d-image-5        = Buff Banner Festive
   | item-description = Provides an offensive buff that causes nearby team members to do mini-crits.
+
| 3d-image-7        = Buff Banner Backpack Festive
 +
| 3d-button-1        = default_half
 +
| 3d-button-2        = default_half
 +
| 3d-button-3        = default_half
 +
| 3d-button-4        = default_half
 +
| 3d-button-5        = colored_pair
 +
| 3d-button-7        = colored_pair
 +
| 3d-viewname-1      = Combined
 +
| 3d-viewname-2      = Banner
 +
| 3d-viewname-3      = Bugle
 +
| 3d-viewname-4      = Backpack
 +
| 3d-viewname-5      = Combined Festive
 +
| 3d-viewname-7      = Backpack Festive
 +
| hide-kill-icon    = yes
 +
| used-by           = {{used by|Soldier}}
 +
| slot              = secondary
 +
| equip-region      = back
 +
| released          = {{Patch name|12|17|2009}}
 +
| released-major    = WAR! Update
 +
| availability       = {{avail|unlock|drop|craft|purchase|crate52-festive|crate92-strange|collectors}}
 +
| marketable        = yes
 +
| numbered          = no
 +
| medieval          = yes
 +
| ammo-loaded       = {{common string|N/A}}
 +
| ammo-carried       = {{common string|N/A}}
 +
| loadout           = yes
 +
   | item-kind        = {{item kind|Battle Banner}}
 +
  | item-level      = 5
 +
   | item-description = {{item description|Buff Banner}}
 
}}
 
}}
{{Quotation|Soldier Update blurb|Admit it: Every so often, you suspect you’re carrying your team. . . How about motivating those lazy sons of bitches to put on their war face and fight?}}
 
The '''Buff Banner ''' (also known as the '''BB''', '''Bugle''' or just '''Banner''') is an unlockable secondary weapon for the [[Soldier]]. It appears as a tattered battle standard, mounted on a small backpack and accompanied with a dented bugle. The war flag itself remains hidden in the backpack until it is activated, at which point it will appear on a pole mounted to the pack.
 
  
Equipping the Buff Banner makes a "Rage Meter" visible to the Soldier, which is filled by dealing damage to enemies. The Rage Meter becomes full after the Soldier has dealt 600 damage in a single life, at which point he can sound his bugle to rally his teammates. During the 10 seconds following this rallying call, all hits made by allies positioned within 450 [[Hammer unit|units]] of the Soldier (including his own) become [[Critical hits#Mini-Crits|Mini-Crits]]. Buffed players within the radius emit team-colored rings of light from their feet, and their weapons brighten similarly to a [[Critical hits#Crit boost|Crit boost]]. It is possible to delay the release of the banner after the trumpet call, and thereby delaying the buffing effect, by holding down the primary fire key (left mouse button by default).
+
{{Quotation|'''Buff Banner''' publicity blurb|Admit it: Every so often, you suspect you’re carrying your team... How about motivating those lazy sons of bitches to put on their war face and fight?}}
  
Players only receive the buff while positioned within the buff radius, the source(s) of their damage need not be within the radius, so traveling [[Rocket Launcher|rockets]], pre-laid [[Stickybomb Launcher|sticky bombs]], [[Sentry Gun]]s, and [[afterburn]] will deal Mini-Crit damage as long as their creator is buffed when the damage is actually dealt. Likewise, a damage source created within the buff radius will not gain a Mini-Crit benefit if its creator no longer has the buff when the damage is dealt.
+
The '''Buff Banner''' is an unlockable [[Weapons#soldiersecondary|secondary weapon]] for the {{cl|Soldier}}. It is a tattered, battle-standard flag mounted on a small backpack and accompanied by a dented brass bugle. The war flag itself – which is rectangular and colored faded yellow with a brown starburst design and [[Jiggle bones|moves]] realistically – remains hidden in the backpack until it is activated, at which point it appears on a pole mounted to the pack.
  
Switching classes, dying, or removing the Buff Banner from your loadout empties the Soldier's Rage Meter.
+
Equipping the Buff Banner adds a "Rage meter" to the Soldier's [[Heads-up display|HUD]], which is filled by dealing damage to enemies. The Rage meter becomes full after the Soldier has dealt 600 damage in a single life, at which point he can sound his bugle to rally his teammates (playing a different tune on [[Media:Buff banner horn red.wav|RED]] than when on [[Media:Buff banner horn blue.wav|BLU]]). [[Telefrag]]ging an enemy results in a fully charged rage meter, regardless of the previous charge or the type of class killed. Switching classes, dying, or unequipping the Buff Banner empties the Rage meter completely.
  
==Damage==
+
During the 10 seconds following this rallying call, all hits made by allies positioned within 450 [[Hammer unit]]s of the Soldier, including his own, become [[Critical hits#Mini-crits|Mini-Crits]]. Buffed players within the radius emit team-colored rings of light from their feet, and their weapons brighten similarly to a [[Critical hits#Crit Boost|Crit boost]]. It is possible to delay the release of the effect of the Buff Banner after the bugle call, and thereby delaying the buffing effect, by holding down the primary fire key {{DK|MOUSE1}}.
{{See also|Damage}}
 
None. Rage Meter requires 600 damage to fill.
 
  
==Function times==
+
Though players only receive the buff while positioned within the buff radius, the source or sources of their damage need not be within the radius, so traveling [[Rocket Launcher|rockets]], pre-laid [[Stickybomb Launcher|stickybombs]], [[Sentry Gun]]s, [[bleeding]] and [[afterburn]] deal Mini-Crit damage as long as their creator is buffed when the damage is actually dealt. Likewise, a damage source created within the buff radius does not gain a Mini-Crit benefit if its creator no longer has the buff when the damage is dealt.
* Attack Interval: 10 seconds.
 
* Trumpeting Time: ~3 seconds
 
  
All times are in seconds. Times are approximate and determined by community testing.
+
The Buff Banner is automatically given to any player who obtains 17 [[Soldier achievements]].
  
==Components==
+
== Damage and function times ==
<gallery>
+
{{Damage table
File:Buff Banner Buffpack.png
+
| effect range    = 450 [[Hammer unit]]s
File:Buff Banner Bugle.png
+
| damage          = yes
File:Buff Banner Flag.png
+
|  charge fill dmg = {{tooltip|600|Damage done}}
</gallery>
 
  
==Related Achievements==
+
| function times  = yes
{{Achievement table
+
| effect time    = 10 s
| 1 = {{Show achievement|Soldier|Banner of Brothers}}
+
| activation time = 2.645 s
| 2 = {{Show achievement|Soldier|The Boostie Boys}}
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
== As a [[Crafting]] Ingredient ==
+
{{Weapon Demonstration}}
 +
 
 +
== Crafting ==
 +
{{See also|Crafting}}
 +
 
 +
=== Blueprint ===
 +
{{Blueprint | autoresult = Soldier secondary}}
 +
 
 +
=== As a crafting ingredient ===
 
{{Blueprint
 
{{Blueprint
 
| ingredient-1 = Buff Banner
 
| ingredient-1 = Buff Banner
 
| ingredient-2 = Reclaimed Metal
 
| ingredient-2 = Reclaimed Metal
 
| result = Battalion's Backup
 
| result = Battalion's Backup
 +
}}
 +
{{Blueprint
 +
| ingredient-1 = Buff Banner
 +
| ingredient-2 = Reclaimed Metal
 +
| ingredient-3 = Sticky Jumper
 +
| result = B.A.S.E. Jumper
 +
}}
 +
 +
== Strange variant ==
 +
{{Strange item info
 +
| item-type = {{item kind|Battle Banner}}
 +
| rankson = Banners deployed
 +
| festive = yes
 +
| item-name = {{item name|Buff Banner}}
 +
| custom-icon = Backpack Buff Banner.png
 +
  | item-description = {{item description|Buff Banner}}
 +
| can deal taunt damage = no
 +
| can deal damage = no
 +
| can deal gib damage = no
 +
| can headshot = no
 +
| can reflect projectiles = no
 +
| can deal critical damage = no
 +
| can deal posthumous damage = no
 +
| can extinguish = no
 +
| notes =
 +
}}
 +
 +
== Related achievements ==
 +
=== {{class link|Soldier}} ===
 +
{{Achievement table
 +
| 1 = {{Show achievement|Soldier|Banner of Brothers}}
 +
| 2 = {{Show achievement|Soldier|The Boostie Boys}}
 +
}}
 +
 +
 +
=== {{Achiev type link|mvm}} ===
 +
{{Achievement table
 +
| 1 = {{Show achievement|Mann vs. Machievements|Turbocharger}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
== Previous Changes ==
+
== Update history ==
'''[[January 6, 2010 Patch]]'''
+
{{Update history | '''{{Patch name|12|17|2009}}''' ({{update link|WAR! Update}})
 +
* The Buff Banner was added to the game.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|12|22|2009}}'''
 +
* Fixed the Buff Banner not working when {{code|+reload}} has been forced in the console.
 +
* Fixed inconsistent Rage generation with the Buff Banner.
 +
* Fixed the player keeping their rage setting when the Buff Banner isn't equipped.
 +
* Fixed resupply cabinet not clearing the rage and the buff status effect.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|1|6|2010}}'''
 
* Soldier Rage bar no longer resets when touching a resupply cabinet.
 
* Soldier Rage bar no longer resets when touching a resupply cabinet.
  
'''[[January 13, 2010 Patch]]'''
+
'''{{Patch name|1|13|2010}}'''
* Increased the rate of the Soldier's Rage generation by 40%
+
* Increased the rate of the Soldier's Rage generation by 40%.
* Reduced the duration of the Soldier's Buff Banner effect from 14 seconds to 10
+
* Reduced the duration of the Soldier's Buff Banner effect from 14 seconds to 10.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|4|28|2010}}'''
 +
* Added [[jiggle bones]] to the Buff Banner.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|9|30|2010}}''' ({{update link|Mann-Conomy Update}})
 +
* {{Undocumented}} The weapon was added in the crafting blueprint for the [[Battalion's Backup]].
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|10|6|2010}}'''
 +
* Soldiers no longer maintain their rage level when changing [[loadout]].
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|2|3|2011}}'''
 +
* Updated flag model with optimizations and [[Level of detail|LODs]].
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|3|10|2011}}''' ({{update link|Shogun Pack}})
 +
* Updated bugle model with optimizations and LODs.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|6|10|2011}}'''
 +
* Fixed a bug that caused players to see the wrong backpacks on some classes.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|1|11|2012}}'''
 +
* Fixed incorrect player animations for the Buff Banner.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|3|15|2012}}'''
 +
* Fixed Soldier buffs and rage meters not always being reset.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|12|20|2012}}''' ({{update link|Mecha Update}})
 +
* Added [[Festive weapons|Festive]] variant.
 +
* {{Undocumented}} Rage can now be generated from [[Tank Robot|Tanks]] in [[Mann vs. Machine]].
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|1|16|2013}}'''
 +
* Fixed Strange Festive Buff Banner not always tracking usage.
 +
* Added The Festive Buff Banner to the list of items allowed in [[Medieval Mode]].
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|7|10|2013}}'''
 +
* {{Undocumented}} Added "Mini Crit!" next to the health bar when under the effects of the Buff Banner.
 +
* {{Undocumented}} Changed description from "Provides an offensive buff that causes nearby team members to do Mini-Crits." to "Provides an offensive buff that causes nearby team members to do Mini-Crits. Rage increases through damage done."
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|11|12|2013}}'''
 +
* {{Undocumented}} Added [[Collector's]] quality.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|4|1|2014}}'''
 +
* {{Undocumented}} Fixed Crit boosted glow not showing.
  
'''[[October 6, 2010 Patch]]'''
+
'''{{Patch name|11|20|2014}}'''
* Soldiers no longer maintain their rage level when changing loadout.
+
* {{Undocumented}} Updated model.
  
== Demonstration ==
+
'''{{Patch name|3|12|2015}}'''
{{youtube|_sZ2ODS5bRg}}
+
* Added [[Strange]] quality.
 +
 
 +
'''{{Patch name|7|18|2024}} #1''' ([[Summer 2024 Update]])
 +
* Updated the material for The Buff Banner to add phong mask and missing material parameters (community fix from Lindon).}}
 +
 
 +
== Unused content ==
 +
* There are two unused textures for separate "attack" and "defense" banners in the game files, which depict an explosion with an orange background and a shield with a green background, respectively. Why the defense concept was not included on release is unknown, but the concept has since been given to the [[Battalion's Backup]].
 +
* In the VPK, there exists a BLU version of the Buff Banner flag (listed as {{code|c_buffbanner_blue}}).
 +
 
 +
== Bugs ==
 +
* If the player switches to another secondary weapon while the rage is active, the Mini-Crit buff is deployed until the rage is depleted.
 +
* If the player switches to another banner and then touches a [[Respawn#Resupply|Resupply locker]], the rage is carried over.
 +
* The Strange variant of the item can rank up during battles against bots and when {{code|sv_cheats}} is set to {{code|1}}.
 +
<!-- Do not add a bug related to holding the primary fire button, this is already covered in the main paragraph. -->
  
 
== Trivia ==
 
== Trivia ==
* The bugle was originally issued to American monkeynaut Poopy Joe as a means of calling for help before it was acquired by [[Mann Co.]] in entirely innocent circumstances.<ref name="war_bugle">[[WAR! Update]] comic, [http://www.teamfortress.com/war/saxtonhale/poopyjoe.htm news-paper clipping easter egg]</ref>
+
* The bugle was originally issued to American monkeynaut [[Non-player characters#Poopy Joe|Poopy Joe]] as a means of calling for help before it was acquired by [[Mann Co.]] under entirely innocent circumstances.<ref name="war_bugle">{{update link|WAR! Update}} comic, [https://www.teamfortress.com/war/saxtonhale/poopyjoe.htm news-paper clipping easter egg]</ref>
*The Buff Banner has separate, unique calls for both the [[Media:Buff banner horn red.wav|RED]] team and [[Media:Buff banner horn blue.wav|BLU]] team.
+
** The bugle is actually used in this way at the end of a round on the Special Delivery map {{map link|Doomsday}}. The sound of the Buff Banner's bugle can be heard as the rocket begins to crash after prematurely running out of fuel.
*The glow effect of the Buff Banner is a different color for both teams, but neither is the same as their team colors. RED has a gold buff glow, while BLU is teal or mint (greenish blue).
+
* The Buff Banner has text on its back, reading "Screaming Eagles". This is a reference to the United States Army's [[w:101st Airborne Division|101st Airborne Division]], nicknamed the Screaming Eagles, and is also a [[Media:Soldier specialcompleted04.wav|phrase used by the Soldier]].
:*This was most likely done to prevent confusion with the standard Crit boost effect, so players wouldn't mistakenly believe the round had ended or a Medic had ÜberCharged them.  
+
* The [[Festive weapons|Festive variant]] of the Buff Banner has the "Screaming Eagles" text replaced with "Smissmas".
*If in range of a friendly [[Pyro]], the Buff Banner will cause enemies on fire to take Mini-Crit damage, even if the fire was started before the Pyro was buffed.
+
** It also replaces the skull patch with one that appears to have an image of the [[Pyromancer's Mask]] with two candy canes acting as crossbones.
*If in range of a friendly [[Engineer]], that Engineer's Sentry Gun will do Mini-Crit damage. Along with [[Jarate]] and [[Crit-a-Cola]], this makes up one of the only three ways a Sentry Gun can deal Mini-Crit damage.
 
*Mini-Crits from the Buff Banner are not assigned to projectiles, but rather the players that projectiles originate from. If a Soldier is next to you during an active Banner and fires a rocket, but you either run out of rage or that Soldier moves out of Banner range before the projectile makes contact with an enemy, that rocket will not be a Mini-Crit. In order for a projectile to be a Mini-Crit, the person who fired that projectile must be within range of an active Banner at the time that the projectile makes contact (or is detonated, in the case of Sticky bombs) with an object.
 
*[[Telefrag]]ging an enemy results in a fully charged rage meter, regardless of what class the enemy you telefrag is, and how much charge you have initially.
 
*There are two unused textures for separate "attack" and "defense" banners in the game files, which depict an explosion (with an orange background) and a shield (with a green background), respectively.
 
:*The 'defense banner' has subsequently become the [[Battalion's Backup]], which provides 35% damage resistance and Critical hit immunity.
 
*The Buff Banner has text on its back, reading "Screaming Eagles."  This is a reference to the 101st Airborne Division nicknamed Screaming Eagles.
 
  
 
== Gallery ==
 
== Gallery ==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
File:Buff Banner 1st person cropped.png|1st person view.
+
File:Buff Banner 1st person.png|First-person view.
File:Buff Banner 1st person.png|Full 1st person view.
+
File:Buff Banner Buffpack.png|Backpack component.
 +
File:RED Festive Buff Banner.png|[[RED]] [[Festive weapons|Festive variant]].
 +
File:BLU Festive Buff Banner.png|[[BLU]] Festive Variant.
 +
File:Buff Banner Bugle.png|Bugle component.
 +
File:Buff Banner Flag.png|Flag component.
 +
File:Buff Banner RED icon.png|[[Heads-up display|HUD]] icon when under the effect of the Buff Banner on RED.
 +
File:Buff Banner BLU icon.png|HUD icon when under the effect of the Buff Banner on BLU.
 +
File:Buff Banner Use.png|Players being buffed.
 +
File:Buff Banner Unused Attack.png|The unused attack explosion flag texture.
 +
File:Buff Banner Unused Defend.png|The unused defense shield flag texture.
 +
File:C_buffbanner_blue.png|The unused texture for the BLU version of the Buff Banner's flag.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
 
+
<references/>
<references />
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
*[[Soldier strategy#Buff Banner|Buff Banner strategy]]
+
* [[Basic Soldier strategy#Buff Banner + reskins|Buff Banner strategy]]
 +
* [[Festive weapons]]
  
==External links==
+
== External links ==
*[http://www.teamfortress.com/soldierupdate/index.htm#item_3 The Soldier Update - The Buff Banner]
+
* [https://www.teamfortress.com/soldierupdate/index.htm#item_3 The Soldier Update - The Buff Banner]
  
{{Allweapons Nav}}<br/>
+
{{War Update Nav}}
 +
{{Allweapons Nav}}
 
{{Soldier Nav}}
 
{{Soldier Nav}}
  
[[Category:Secondary weapons]]
+
[[Category:Jiggleboned]]

Latest revision as of 03:00, 2 September 2024

"Bugle" redirects here. You may have been looking for Battalion's Backup.
Admit it: Every so often, you suspect you’re carrying your team... How about motivating those lazy sons of bitches to put on their war face and fight?
Buff Banner publicity blurb

The Buff Banner is an unlockable secondary weapon for the Soldier. It is a tattered, battle-standard flag mounted on a small backpack and accompanied by a dented brass bugle. The war flag itself – which is rectangular and colored faded yellow with a brown starburst design and moves realistically – remains hidden in the backpack until it is activated, at which point it appears on a pole mounted to the pack.

Equipping the Buff Banner adds a "Rage meter" to the Soldier's HUD, which is filled by dealing damage to enemies. The Rage meter becomes full after the Soldier has dealt 600 damage in a single life, at which point he can sound his bugle to rally his teammates (playing a different tune on RED than when on BLU). Telefragging an enemy results in a fully charged rage meter, regardless of the previous charge or the type of class killed. Switching classes, dying, or unequipping the Buff Banner empties the Rage meter completely.

During the 10 seconds following this rallying call, all hits made by allies positioned within 450 Hammer units of the Soldier, including his own, become Mini-Crits. Buffed players within the radius emit team-colored rings of light from their feet, and their weapons brighten similarly to a Crit boost. It is possible to delay the release of the effect of the Buff Banner after the bugle call, and thereby delaying the buffing effect, by holding down the primary fire key (default key: MOUSE1).

Though players only receive the buff while positioned within the buff radius, the source or sources of their damage need not be within the radius, so traveling rockets, pre-laid stickybombs, Sentry Guns, bleeding and afterburn deal Mini-Crit damage as long as their creator is buffed when the damage is actually dealt. Likewise, a damage source created within the buff radius does not gain a Mini-Crit benefit if its creator no longer has the buff when the damage is dealt.

The Buff Banner is automatically given to any player who obtains 17 Soldier achievements.

Damage and function times

See also: Damage
Damage and function times
Effect range 450 Hammer units
Damage
Charge fill damage 600
Function times
Effect duration 10 s
Activation time 2.645 s
Values are approximate and determined by community testing.

Demonstration

Crafting

See also: Crafting

Blueprint

Class Token - Soldier Slot Token - Secondary Scrap Metal Possible Results
Item icon Class Token - Soldier.png + Item icon Slot Token - Secondary.png + Item icon Scrap Metal.png =
Item icon Buff Banner.png Item icon Gunboats.png Item icon Battalion's Backup.png Item icon Concheror.png
Item icon Mantreads.png Item icon Reserve Shooter.png Item icon Righteous Bison.png Item icon B.A.S.E. Jumper.png
Item icon Panic Attack.png

As a crafting ingredient

Buff Banner Reclaimed Metal Battalion's Backup
Item icon Buff Banner.png + Item icon Reclaimed Metal.png = Item icon Battalion's Backup.png
Buff Banner Reclaimed Metal Sticky Jumper B.A.S.E. Jumper
Item icon Buff Banner.png + Item icon Reclaimed Metal.png + Item icon Sticky Jumper.png = Item icon B.A.S.E. Jumper.png

Strange variant


Related achievements

Leaderboard class soldier.png Soldier

The Boostie Boys
The Boostie Boys
Buff 15 teammates with the Buff Banner in a single life.


Mvm navicon.png Mann vs. Machievements

Turbocharger
Turbocharger
Buff 4 or more teammates as a Soldier at the same time in a single wave.

Update history

December 17, 2009 Patch (WAR! Update)
  • The Buff Banner was added to the game.

December 22, 2009 Patch

  • Fixed the Buff Banner not working when +reload has been forced in the console.
  • Fixed inconsistent Rage generation with the Buff Banner.
  • Fixed the player keeping their rage setting when the Buff Banner isn't equipped.
  • Fixed resupply cabinet not clearing the rage and the buff status effect.

January 6, 2010 Patch

  • Soldier Rage bar no longer resets when touching a resupply cabinet.

January 13, 2010 Patch

  • Increased the rate of the Soldier's Rage generation by 40%.
  • Reduced the duration of the Soldier's Buff Banner effect from 14 seconds to 10.

April 28, 2010 Patch

September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)

October 6, 2010 Patch

  • Soldiers no longer maintain their rage level when changing loadout.

February 3, 2011 Patch

  • Updated flag model with optimizations and LODs.

March 10, 2011 Patch (Shogun Pack)

  • Updated bugle model with optimizations and LODs.

June 10, 2011 Patch

  • Fixed a bug that caused players to see the wrong backpacks on some classes.

January 11, 2012 Patch

  • Fixed incorrect player animations for the Buff Banner.

March 15, 2012 Patch

  • Fixed Soldier buffs and rage meters not always being reset.

December 20, 2012 Patch (Mecha Update)

January 16, 2013 Patch

  • Fixed Strange Festive Buff Banner not always tracking usage.
  • Added The Festive Buff Banner to the list of items allowed in Medieval Mode.

July 10, 2013 Patch

  • [Undocumented] Added "Mini Crit!" next to the health bar when under the effects of the Buff Banner.
  • [Undocumented] Changed description from "Provides an offensive buff that causes nearby team members to do Mini-Crits." to "Provides an offensive buff that causes nearby team members to do Mini-Crits. Rage increases through damage done."

November 12, 2013 Patch

April 1, 2014 Patch

  • [Undocumented] Fixed Crit boosted glow not showing.

November 20, 2014 Patch

  • [Undocumented] Updated model.

March 12, 2015 Patch

July 18, 2024 Patch #1 (Summer 2024 Update)

  • Updated the material for The Buff Banner to add phong mask and missing material parameters (community fix from Lindon).

Unused content

  • There are two unused textures for separate "attack" and "defense" banners in the game files, which depict an explosion with an orange background and a shield with a green background, respectively. Why the defense concept was not included on release is unknown, but the concept has since been given to the Battalion's Backup.
  • In the VPK, there exists a BLU version of the Buff Banner flag (listed as c_buffbanner_blue).

Bugs

  • If the player switches to another secondary weapon while the rage is active, the Mini-Crit buff is deployed until the rage is depleted.
  • If the player switches to another banner and then touches a Resupply locker, the rage is carried over.
  • The Strange variant of the item can rank up during battles against bots and when sv_cheats is set to 1.

Trivia

  • The bugle was originally issued to American monkeynaut Poopy Joe as a means of calling for help before it was acquired by Mann Co. under entirely innocent circumstances.[1]
    • The bugle is actually used in this way at the end of a round on the Special Delivery map Doomsday. The sound of the Buff Banner's bugle can be heard as the rocket begins to crash after prematurely running out of fuel.
  • The Buff Banner has text on its back, reading "Screaming Eagles". This is a reference to the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division, nicknamed the Screaming Eagles, and is also a phrase used by the Soldier.
  • The Festive variant of the Buff Banner has the "Screaming Eagles" text replaced with "Smissmas".
    • It also replaces the skull patch with one that appears to have an image of the Pyromancer's Mask with two candy canes acting as crossbones.

Gallery

References

See also

External links