D&D 5E Can an unseen servant fly?

[Oofta]

....
And, stupid corner case question number 14: what happens if this spell is cast in mid-air, or while floating on the astral or ethereal plane, or somewhere else where there isn't any "ground" for the servant to show up on?

Unable to handle the contradiction of a servant appearing on the floor where there is none the plane of existence implodes in upon itself forming a singularity as it tries to come up with a solution for the impossible.

 

[CleverNickName]

There's also nothing said about _____, so we're left to assume ______.

This is the essence of Dungeon Mastery.

And, stupid corner case question number 14: what happens if this spell is cast in mid-air, or while floating on the astral or ethereal plane, or somewhere else where there isn't any "ground" for the servant to show up on?

I think that if the "ground" is more than 60 feet away, the Unseen Servant would be out of range and the spell would end. But honestly? If the player is in a situation where they need to do housework while in freefall or whatever, something very strange is going on and I'd try to figure out a way to help the player accomplish....whatever it was they were trying to accomplish.

 

[Bacon Bits]

The spell is word salad because it's trying to do too many things and not do many things at all.

I really don't think it falls to the level of word salad. It's less concrete than it could be. However, it's only an issue if someone is willfully trying to misinterpret it or starts from a premise that it has to obey some arbitrary mental model of "this is how it works" or "this is what the spell is doing behind the scenes."

 

[Vaalingrade]

I really don't think it falls to the level of word salad. It's less concrete than it could be. However, it's only an issue if someone is willfully trying to misinterpret it or starts from a premise that it has to obey some arbitrary mental model of "this is how it works" or "this is what the spell is doing behind the scenes."

I know! And I just want people to stop willfully misinterpreting the 'human servant' line.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I do agree with you, however, that the spell is badly written; though I also suspect your rewrite of it and mine would end up looking quite different.

Let's talk then.

Quick and dirty, I think there's two spells here: Mage Hand + and Magic Butler.

Mage Hand + moves to any square within the range and manipulates objects as directed with a better weight limit and fine manipulation compared to Mage Hand

Magic Butler is a summon/conjuration that creates a faux intelligence that can follow complex directions, accept set expectations, and act on its own to follow its directives. It would also have a longer duration and have an option to conjure the same instance with all previous directives. Also no range because obviously a servant shouldn't be tethered to you because that's the opposite of the point.

 

[BookTenTiger]

I know! And I just want people to stop willfully misinterpreting the 'human servant' line.

Trying to force people to do something on the internet is the opposite of casting Unseen Servant; you have no control over the poster you cannot see. The day someone's actions change due to a post on a D&D forum is the day Unseen Servants fly.

 

[greg kaye]

Unseen servant

...is a summon/conjuration that creates a faux intelligence that can follow complex directions, accept set expectations, and act on its own to follow its directives. It would also have a longer duration and have an option to conjure the same instance with all previous directives.

Why do you suppose that the directions can be complex? It says, "Once on each of your turns as a bonus action, you can mentally command the servant to move up to 15 feet and interact with an object."
I wouldn't allow directions beyond:
"fetch x", "clean X", "mend X", "fold X", "ignite X", "serve X (specific food)", and "pour X (drink)". I'd imagine that only simple tasks could be attempted with any success. The unseen servant is limited but "performs the task to the best of its ability".
I think there are parallels to animate dead where " you can issue a general command, [such as to guard a particular chamber or corridor]" only the unseen servant has a lot less strength.

 

[SkidAce]

Let's talk then.

Quick and dirty, I think there's two spells here: Mage Hand + and Magic Butler.

Mage Hand + moves to any square within the range and manipulates objects as directed with a better weight limit and fine manipulation compared to Mage Hand

Magic Butler is a summon/conjuration that creates a faux intelligence that can follow complex directions, accept set expectations, and act on its own to follow its directives. It would also have a longer duration and have an option to conjure the same instance with all previous directives. Also no range because obviously a servant shouldn't be tethered to you because that's the opposite of the point.

I think 60 feet is plenty of range for my magic servant to bring me a cold beer from my magical cold storage device, fan me with cool air, answer the front door so I don't have to get up, and then fetch my guest and I dinner.

 

[BookTenTiger]

I think 60 feet is plenty of range for my magic servant to bring me a cold beer from my magical cold storage device, fan me with cool air, answer the front door so I don't have to get up, and then fetch my guest and I dinner.

And don't forget camp setup! Unseen Servant is a great way to clear those goblin bodies and tidy up for your long rest.

 

[greg kaye]

... Unseen Servant is a great way to clear those goblin bodies and tidy up for your long rest.

But only in performing light duties on one thing at a time.
" It has ... a Strength of 2, and" can "interact with an object".