Zaruthustran
The tingling means it’s working!
Unseen Servant has always held a special spot in my heart. Maybe because boy, would I sure like to have this spell in real life. The 5E version has some welcome specificity that nevertheless inspires some intriguing, undefined possibilities. I'm curious how this community feels about the topics below.
1. Space occupancy.
"This spell creates an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends.The servant springs into existence in an unoccupied space on the ground within range." "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."
The above three sentences deal with the Servant's nature. It's "shapeless", yet must be conjured into an unoccupied space. It's position is also specific to a single space; if you want it to an interact with an object, you have to command it to move from where it is, to where you want it to be.
So: does the Servant occupy a space? From the description, yes of course it does. But from a game point of view, does it occupy a space? Can another creature move into its space? Would it block movement?
The "shapeless" nature of the Servant makes the answer ambiguous. If the shapelessness means that the Servant does not occupy a space, does that mean it can move through barriers, such as jail bars, nets, or walls? Does that mean it doesn't register to Blindsight? That it doesn't leave ripples when it enters water?
It's a tricky question. It seems to me you could think of Unseen Servant as essentially an invisible mindless gnome (OCCUPIES A SPACE), or as essentially a persistent, command-following version of The Force that for some reason is limited to interacting with things within 15 feet of the last thing you interacted with (DOES NOT OCCUPY A SPACE). If it's the former, you can use it in combat as an obstacle. If it's the latter, it's a lot stealthier, and a valuable aid to thieves.
Another consideration: the Unseen Servant has an AC (10) and HP (1). If it occupies a space, it stands to reason that it can be attacked with weapons and spells, and suffer from AOEs and environmental damage. If it doesn't occupy a space... what purpose do these stats serve?
Personally, I'm coming down on the "occupy a space" side. Unseen Servant is not telekinesis.
2. Complexity of tasks
"The servant can perform simple tasks that a human servant could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring wine."
These are excellent, specific examples. What else can the Servant do? Keep in mind it's further limited by a Str of 2.
Can it dig a ditch? Build a wall? The PHB p 178 says that a 2 Str can "carry" 30 pounds, and "push, drag, or lift" 60 pounds. A typical shovelful of dirt is less than 10 pounds. A typical 12"x7" concrete wall block is 22 pounds. That 2 Str is actually pretty useful.
Can it copy a letter? Can it search a book for an instance of a specific word? The Unseen Servant is described as "mindless", yet some of its described uses, such as starting a fire (selecting tinder, building a fire, igniting a spark, nurturing a flame, feeding the fire) and serving food (using utensils, identifying food and serving plates) indicate some level of observation ability and competency. Surely the Unseen Servant cannot read--it can't comprehend written language--but could it dumbly use a pencil to match the shapes on another page? Could it CTRL-F for a specific word in a book?
3. Getting the most out of your Unseen Servant
Your mindless friend can prepare camp, perform boring physical labor, and open suspected-as-dangerous doors and containers. But he can do so much more.
Charlatan's assistant: Your buddy sticks around for a solid hour. Plenty of time to call him, mosey (15' move) to a mark, and have some fun. The Servant responds to mental commands, so you can order him around in secret. Have him tap shoulders, lift cloaks, rattle glassware, flip cards, move Ouija board markers, or otherwise enhance your act. He's spooktacular. And unlike Prestidigitation or Thaumaturgy, he can do all this while you do other things (commanding the servant takes no action), and you don't give the gig away (requires no Verbal, Somatic, or Material components). He's on-demand supernatural effects. For the Performers in the party, he can keep simple time on a drum, cowbell, or other simple percussion instrument, and effect set changes. He can even pass the hat.
Dungeon Pal: Torchbearer is obvious, but keep in mind the Servant's vulnerability and low speed. He can't keep up if you need to pursue or run away, and he'll drop that torch at the first AOE spell or trap. Use him for unusual solutions to unusual challenges: he can prod weird mushrooms or stalagmites, fill containers from strange pools, pick up golden idols, pry gem eyes. And of course: he's the designated opener of doors, coffins, and chests.
Force multiplier: A single Unseen Servant can fetch wood and start a fire, dig a latrine, unpack and brush the horses, lay out the bedrolls, and serve the pork n' beans. But why settle for a single Servant? The spell takes ten minutes to cast (as a ritual) and lasts for an hour. It doesn't require Concentration. So cast it once, and set that Servant to digging a perimeter ditch. Cast it again, and have that Servant join in. Cast it again, and have that Servant chop some small trees. Cast it again, and have that servant trim the branches and sharpen the ends. Cast it a fifth time, and have that Servant dig small holes along the perimeter of the ditch. Cast it a final time, and right when the first Servant expires this sixth Servant can start sticking the sharpened stakes in the holes. Set the other Servants to help finish this task and the ditch. With one hour of casting you get six man-hours of tireless labor. Assuming the other PCs pitch in, you can sleep in the security of a (tiny) Roman-style field fort each night.
You can extend this to other scenarios. Spend 20 minutes casting before heading into a situation, and you'll have two allies for 50 minutes. Invisible, no-action-requiring-to-mentally-command allies. Have each one carry a sack of caltrops, and you've got instant hazards to deploy. Or have them deploy a spread cloak between them, thereby giving you full cover. Or have them both follow you around on either side, each carrying a skull at head height, for major creep cred. Or have them bear shields, as your two ethereal bodyguards. For extra fun, light up these props with Prestidigitation, Light, or other special effect cantrips. "Flaming" swords are fun! Sure, these Servants are useless in combat. But whoever you're trying to intimidate doesn't know that. "You and what army", indeed.
What other fun uses of Unseen Servant can y'all think up?
*EDIT: commanding the servant does require an action. Specifically, a bonus action.
1. Space occupancy.
"This spell creates an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends.The servant springs into existence in an unoccupied space on the ground within range." "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."
The above three sentences deal with the Servant's nature. It's "shapeless", yet must be conjured into an unoccupied space. It's position is also specific to a single space; if you want it to an interact with an object, you have to command it to move from where it is, to where you want it to be.
So: does the Servant occupy a space? From the description, yes of course it does. But from a game point of view, does it occupy a space? Can another creature move into its space? Would it block movement?
The "shapeless" nature of the Servant makes the answer ambiguous. If the shapelessness means that the Servant does not occupy a space, does that mean it can move through barriers, such as jail bars, nets, or walls? Does that mean it doesn't register to Blindsight? That it doesn't leave ripples when it enters water?
It's a tricky question. It seems to me you could think of Unseen Servant as essentially an invisible mindless gnome (OCCUPIES A SPACE), or as essentially a persistent, command-following version of The Force that for some reason is limited to interacting with things within 15 feet of the last thing you interacted with (DOES NOT OCCUPY A SPACE). If it's the former, you can use it in combat as an obstacle. If it's the latter, it's a lot stealthier, and a valuable aid to thieves.
Another consideration: the Unseen Servant has an AC (10) and HP (1). If it occupies a space, it stands to reason that it can be attacked with weapons and spells, and suffer from AOEs and environmental damage. If it doesn't occupy a space... what purpose do these stats serve?
Personally, I'm coming down on the "occupy a space" side. Unseen Servant is not telekinesis.
2. Complexity of tasks
"The servant can perform simple tasks that a human servant could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring wine."
These are excellent, specific examples. What else can the Servant do? Keep in mind it's further limited by a Str of 2.
Can it dig a ditch? Build a wall? The PHB p 178 says that a 2 Str can "carry" 30 pounds, and "push, drag, or lift" 60 pounds. A typical shovelful of dirt is less than 10 pounds. A typical 12"x7" concrete wall block is 22 pounds. That 2 Str is actually pretty useful.
Can it copy a letter? Can it search a book for an instance of a specific word? The Unseen Servant is described as "mindless", yet some of its described uses, such as starting a fire (selecting tinder, building a fire, igniting a spark, nurturing a flame, feeding the fire) and serving food (using utensils, identifying food and serving plates) indicate some level of observation ability and competency. Surely the Unseen Servant cannot read--it can't comprehend written language--but could it dumbly use a pencil to match the shapes on another page? Could it CTRL-F for a specific word in a book?
3. Getting the most out of your Unseen Servant
Your mindless friend can prepare camp, perform boring physical labor, and open suspected-as-dangerous doors and containers. But he can do so much more.
Charlatan's assistant: Your buddy sticks around for a solid hour. Plenty of time to call him, mosey (15' move) to a mark, and have some fun. The Servant responds to mental commands, so you can order him around in secret. Have him tap shoulders, lift cloaks, rattle glassware, flip cards, move Ouija board markers, or otherwise enhance your act. He's spooktacular. And unlike Prestidigitation or Thaumaturgy, he can do all this while you do other things (commanding the servant takes no action), and you don't give the gig away (requires no Verbal, Somatic, or Material components). He's on-demand supernatural effects. For the Performers in the party, he can keep simple time on a drum, cowbell, or other simple percussion instrument, and effect set changes. He can even pass the hat.
Dungeon Pal: Torchbearer is obvious, but keep in mind the Servant's vulnerability and low speed. He can't keep up if you need to pursue or run away, and he'll drop that torch at the first AOE spell or trap. Use him for unusual solutions to unusual challenges: he can prod weird mushrooms or stalagmites, fill containers from strange pools, pick up golden idols, pry gem eyes. And of course: he's the designated opener of doors, coffins, and chests.
Force multiplier: A single Unseen Servant can fetch wood and start a fire, dig a latrine, unpack and brush the horses, lay out the bedrolls, and serve the pork n' beans. But why settle for a single Servant? The spell takes ten minutes to cast (as a ritual) and lasts for an hour. It doesn't require Concentration. So cast it once, and set that Servant to digging a perimeter ditch. Cast it again, and have that Servant join in. Cast it again, and have that Servant chop some small trees. Cast it again, and have that servant trim the branches and sharpen the ends. Cast it a fifth time, and have that Servant dig small holes along the perimeter of the ditch. Cast it a final time, and right when the first Servant expires this sixth Servant can start sticking the sharpened stakes in the holes. Set the other Servants to help finish this task and the ditch. With one hour of casting you get six man-hours of tireless labor. Assuming the other PCs pitch in, you can sleep in the security of a (tiny) Roman-style field fort each night.
You can extend this to other scenarios. Spend 20 minutes casting before heading into a situation, and you'll have two allies for 50 minutes. Invisible, no-action-requiring-to-mentally-command allies. Have each one carry a sack of caltrops, and you've got instant hazards to deploy. Or have them deploy a spread cloak between them, thereby giving you full cover. Or have them both follow you around on either side, each carrying a skull at head height, for major creep cred. Or have them bear shields, as your two ethereal bodyguards. For extra fun, light up these props with Prestidigitation, Light, or other special effect cantrips. "Flaming" swords are fun! Sure, these Servants are useless in combat. But whoever you're trying to intimidate doesn't know that. "You and what army", indeed.
What other fun uses of Unseen Servant can y'all think up?
*EDIT: commanding the servant does require an action. Specifically, a bonus action.
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