Here are the other two questions and Answers regarding the
unseen servant spell handled by the Sage in Dragon issue #301-
____________________________
Q.- Can the
unseen servant run? Is it subject to encumberance?
A.- Though the spell description mention "running and fetching," an
unseen servant cannot use the run action. An
unseen servant has a Strength score, and it is subject to the encumberance rules. It moves as its full speed of 15 only when carrying a load of 6 pounds or less. If carrying 7 to 20 pounds its speed is 10 feet. It also moves at a speed of 10 feet when dragging 7 to 100 pounds. Because it has a strength of 2, it can lift as much as 40 pounds (double its heavy load), and can move 5 feet each round (staggering) when doing so. Note that an
unseen servant must move along the ground when draggin something, but it can move in three dimensions when carrying anything it can lift.
____________________________
Q.- How much space does an
unseen servant take up? Does it block a space or provide cover?
A.- An
unseen servant is a shpaeless force. It takes up no space (but as a spell effect it cannot pass barriers) and does not provide cover. It does not block attacks or magical effects, and it does not prevent movement through the space where it is located. When an
unseen servant spell is cast, however, you do need to keep track of its location, because the spell ends if the caster goes out of range. You'll also need to know how long it takes the servant to carry something to the caster, and, since area-effect spells can destroy the servant, you'll need to know its location to know if an area-effect spell harms it.
____________________________
Crothian said:
To tell you the truth, I also thought they flew to begin with. Maybe that's a hold over from early editions, I don't know.
I've never owned the basic editions boxed sets, just the regular rules, so I do not know if there is something that is in print that says much more. From the previous hard back books...
____________________________
AD&D 1E - The
unseen servant is a non-visible valet, a butler to step and fetch, open doors and hold chairs, as well as clean and mend. The spell creates a force which is not strong, but which obeys the command of the magic-user. It can carry only light-weight items -- a maximum of 200 gold pieces weight suspended, twice that amount moving across a relatively friction-free surface such as a smooth stone or wood floor. It can only open normal doors, drawers, lids, etc. The
unseen servant cannot fight, nor can it be killed, as it is a force rather than a creature. It can be magically dispelled, or eliminated after taking 6 hit points of magical damage. The material components of the spell are a piece of string and a bit of wood.
____________________________
AD&D 2E - The unseen servant is an invisible, mindless and shapeless force, used to step and fetch, open unstuck doors, and hold chairs, as well as to clean and mend. It is not strong, but unfailingly obeys the command of the wizard. It can perform only oneactivity at a time and can move only lightweight items, carrying a maximum of 20 pounds or pushing/pulling 40 pounds across a smooth surface. It can open only normal doors, drawers, lids, etc. The unseen servant cannot fight, nor can it be killed, as it is a force rather than a creature. It can be magically dispelled, or eliminated after receiving 6 points of damage from area-effect spells, breath weapons, or similar attacks. If the caster attempts to send it beyond the allowed radius, the spell ends immediately. ... The material components of the spell are a piece of sting and a bit of wood.
____________________________
D&D3E - The unseen servant is an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command. It can run and fetch things, open unstuck doors and hold chairs, as well as clean and mend. The sevant can perform only one activity at a time, but it repeats the same activity over and over again if told to do so, thus allowing you to clean the floor and then turn your attention elsewhere as long as you remain within range. It can only open normal doors, drawers, lids, etc. It has an effective strength score of 2 (so it can lift 20 pounds or drag 100 pounds). It can trigger traps and such, but it can exeert only 20 punds of force, and that is not enough to activate certain pressure plates and other devices. Its speed is 15. ... The servant cannot attack in any way; it is never allowed an attack roll. It cannot be killed but dissipates if it takes 6 points of damage from area attacks. (It gets no saves against attacks.) If you attempt to send it beyond the spell's range (measured from your current position), the servant ceases to exist. ...
Material Components: A piece of string and a bit of wood.
____________________________
All three seem to imply, IMO, that the
unseen servant moves along the ground.
Deadguy said:
I think in may ways that the unseen servant can be treated as an incorporeal entity that has a force effect which allows the movement of objects (cf. ghost touch). As such, it doesn't fly, but it can move in any direction, including through solid objects (though of course it can't carry objects through solid ones, since they remain firmly in the Material Plane).
I know that they've assigned a fly speed to, say, wraiths but it isn't actually necessary to do so; I guess it means that they can move faster when they want to, is all. But they didn't have to do so; they could 'fly' as incorporeal beings. So treat the unseen servant in a similar fashion; it's incorporeal, can effectively fly, but doesn't have the higher speed option.
Hope that helps. It's how I think of them.
You've added more below so I'll just follow along.
dvvega said:
Since the Unseen Servant isn't any form of "being" incorporeal or otherwise, I believe the "fly" in this context is just a way to explain to players/DMs how to adjudicate its movement.
The unseen servant is a Force, that's all ... how does a force move? No one knows ... so describe it as Fly and suddenly its logical.
I see what you are saying, but perhaps someone should know. Maybe there needs to be some mechanic that handles this specifically. I think that using the word "Fly" is a bit loose, especially since they assign it a regular speed and a Strength score.
Deadguy said:
Or you can think of it that way! 
Actually that's a lot better than my description so please regard my previous post as null-and-void! 
Noted.
(Psi)SeveredHead said:
What's the Sage's new email address, please?
I do not know. There was nothing that I found in the column or in the masthead of the magazine. Sorry.
Saeviomagy said:
Even if it didn't fly, the servant isn't given any form of dimensions - there's really nothing to stop it being able to 'reach' an object that's 25 feet in the air, even if it's 'feet' are on the ground.
The only thing that giving it a 'flying' rate does is allow it to accompany the user when the ground is out of range of the spell.
I've posted the additional Q's and A's but I think that what you propose might not follow the same logic being used to explain the
unseen servant in the various explanations. I'll hold off saying more until you've had the chance to review the additional material and perhaps clarify your proposal, if you will please.
