Can Unseen Servants Flank?

[takasi]

Can unseen servants provide a flanking bonus even if they can't attack?

Do invisible creatures that opponents are unaware of normally provide a flanking bonus?

Do creatures that are unable to attack normally provide a flanking bonus?

 

[IanB]

You have to threaten someone in order to provide a flanking bonus to an attacker, so unseen servants are out.

 

[takasi]

Thanks!

"Only a creature or character that threatens the defender can help an attacker get a flanking bonus. "

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/combatModifiers.htm

 

[Hypersmurf]

Do invisible creatures that opponents are unaware of normally provide a flanking bonus?

Per the rules in the PHB, certainly, as long as they are friendly to the attacker, in the correct position, and threaten the opponent.

Skip Williams declared otherwise in the 3E FAQ and the RotG, but his assertion is unsupported by the rules.

Do creatures that are unable to attack normally provide a flanking bonus?

You threaten any square into which you can make a melee attack. If you can't make a melee attack, you generally don't threaten, and so no.

-Hyp.