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So my halfling bard (2Bard/2Rogue) has finally gained access to 1st lvl spells, and has 2 spells to add to his repertoire, 1 is Cure light wounds thanks to no one playing a healing class, and from his other choices of Grease, Charm Person, and Sleep, I want to take Unseen Servant because it seems to be the most halfling thing to do. I mean honestly, the Unseen Servant can set off traps, carry up to 20Lbs of stuff, clean, mend, do anything with a skill check of 10 or lower.
I think I will name my Unseen Servant God. "God, will you get me that cupcake?"
How can I abuse this enough to make it worth taking over Sleep or Grease?
Unseen Servant
Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Brd 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One invisible, mindless, shapeless servant
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
An 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 servant can perform only one activity at a time, but it repeats the same activity over and over again if told to do so as long as you remain within range. It can open only normal doors, drawers, lids, and the like. 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 exert only 20 pounds of force, which is not enough to activate certain pressure plates and other devices. It can’t perform any task that requires a skill check with a DC higher than 10 or that requires a check using a skill that can’t be used untrained. Its speed is 15 feet.
The servant cannot attack in any way; it is never allowed an attack roll. It cannot be killed, but it 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.
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Not that this will help your situation but my second favorite, all time, use of a spell was with Unseen Servant.
It must've been'87, '88 or so, 1E, and we were about 8th level or so. I wanna say it was a homebrew mix of "Castle Amber," "White Plume Mt.," and DM imagination.
Somehow, during the last fight, all but one of us got teleported inside a giant hourglass, burning sands pouring on our heads. DM says we have 4 rds before we are suffocated.
My fighter and the other sword junkies started hacking away at the structure. The Magic-User blasted a lighening bolt that almost killed ALL of us but did nothing to the hourglass.
At the beginning of round 4 we were all panicking, making the mage read aloud all his spells to the group trying to find something useful.
We found unseen servant.
We used him to plug up the hole above our heads where the sand was falling in.
-W. E. Ray
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I guess for me that's what Unseen Servant is all about. Keep him in a scroll and when your party needs a creative way to solve a challenge, cast Unseen Servant.
For a Bard or Sorcerer, though, Unseen Servant several times per day may only be a good choice in "Tomb of Horrors" where you need one to take point and touch "EVERYTHING" before a PC.
Or maybe in a low combat / heavy role play, urban adventure.
Illusions and Ventriloquism are your friends.
-W. E. Ray
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Not that this will help your situation but my second favorite, all time, use of a spell was with Unseen Servant.
It must've been'87, '88 or so, 1E, and we were about 8th level or so. I wanna say it was a homebrew mix of "Castle Amber," "White Plume Mt.," and DM imagination.
Somehow, during the last fight, all but one of us got teleported inside a giant hourglass, burning sands pouring on our heads. DM says we have 4 rds before we are suffocated.
My fighter and the other sword junkies started hacking away at the structure. The Magic-User blasted a lighening bolt that almost killed ALL of us but did nothing to the hourglass.
At the beginning of round 4 we were all panicking, making the mage read aloud all his spells to the group trying to find something useful.
We found unseen servant.
We used him to plug up the hole above our heads where the sand was falling in.
-W. E. Ray
Hrmmm, Range is 25 feet + 5/2Lvl. It doesnt say its ground based. Maybe it can fly. Help me get teh stuff off the high shelves.
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"Range...?" What is this range you speak of?
Man, this was way back in 1E -- they didn't have actual rules and regulations back then. Certainly nothing specific.
As I recall, the Unseen Servant just climbed atop the Magic-User's shoulders and stood up into the hole.
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Hmmm, maybe it was because we were kids, the books were too confusing and we had more fun with homebrew rules --
but I don't remember playing with any technicalities.
You're probably right, though, on the ranges.
But, man, those were the days.
Once we used a cantrip spell to make some bubble gum appear inside a construct's gears, effectively shutting it down.
THAT's my favorite use of a spell of all time.
-W. E. Ray
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So far I have found the following:
Have the US (Unseen Servant) hold mirrors for you to look around corners.
Have the US steal dropped weapons.
Have the US loot lewt while in combat, make a hasty retreat with some lewt without having to kill the baddys.
Have the US carry explosives into a camp and light them.
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Better yet, have the Servant carry lit explosives into a camp.
If you're a Halfling Rogue/Bard, then the obvious answer for the Servant is to pull awesome pranks.
Replace the Fighter's magical sword with one that looks the same untill he unsheates it, discovering its blade is wooden!
Use the Servant to make the Cleric believe his deity is communicating to him directly(as the Cleric is writing scrolls, the Servant takes the pen and writes messages).
When the Wizard is preparing spells in the morning, have the Servant start flipping the pages in the book so that he can't focus on the spells.
When the Paladin is tending to his mount, have the Servant slap its flanks, sending it running off.
When everyone is sleeping, have the Servant steal any female party member's undergarments and hide them in the Paladin's belongings. If the Paladin is female, steal male party member's undergarments and hide them in her belongings.
While the Monk meditates, have your Servant poke him.
When anyone is occupied, wedgies.
When the front-line fighter types aren't looking, have the Servant fill
their bags with rocks(to increase their carried weight).
Replace everyone's Potions of Cure Wounds with Foldger's Crystals to see if anyone notices the difference.
And such practical jokes in general.
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Cato, you a hereby excommunicated from any of my games.
Unless the PCs are all 0HD kobolds on a mission to the surface looking for the secret of fire.
-W. E. Ray
What if I play a Lawful Good Necromancer?
By the way, I guess you wouldn't like my current character: A Monk who I've actually spent skill points for ranks in Perform-Eulogy and Perform-Marriage. That, and he's lecherous.
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Have the unseen servant carry a bolt of silk.
When needed, it uses the length of silk (2 yards x 2 yards, costs 40 gp) to provide total cover along a single side of a square. Because the silk "exists" it takes an entire attack to destroy it.
Of course the real fun with that comes from using servant horde (from the Spell Compendium). Then you have enough servants to completely cover your square, or that of another PC, as needed.
Or, even better, they can team up and lift a shield with you standing on it. Then you cast a bunch of Tenser's Floating Discs, and instant air cav.
The horde can also combine to lift a single PC up some distance.
But back to just a single servant.
That cover can let someone without tumble get close to a monster with reach, either to attack, withdraw, or heal.
The servant is great for picking up dropped weapons, either from your party when you drop them to switch, or a bad guy's when you disarm him.
The servant can pick up a magical item, unlike a mage hand.
The servant can drag a heavy enough weight to set off those kobold-weight traps.
The servant can hold some useful item at the ready so you do not have to dig it out of your pack. (Just watch out for those incoming fireballs.)
The servant can toss a rock to distract the bad guys, or similar technique. Have it run with a stuffed cat! It can even freeze in place and pretend to glare at them.
The servant can carry your torch, everburning or otherwise.
The servant can carry your silence stone, and cover it or float away with it at a thought.
As long as it does not require an attack roll, and involves something weighing 20 lbs. or less, the unseen servant can do it. So a better question is, what can you not do with it.
Have the unseen servant carry a bolt of silk.
When needed, it uses the length of silk (2 yards x 2 yards, costs 40 gp) to provide total cover along a single side of a square. Because the silk "exists" it takes an entire attack to destroy it.
That's even better than a tent!
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Have the unseen servant carry a bolt of silk.
When needed, it uses the length of silk (2 yards x 2 yards, costs 40 gp) to provide total cover along a single side of a square. Because the silk "exists" it takes an entire attack to destroy itCool ideas, rather than 40GP worth of silk, how about 5 copper in burlap.
As part-rogue the servant would be particularly useful.
Have the US light a smokestick so you can sneak attack from range.
Have the US re-load one heavy crossbow while you're shooting another.
Have the US provide total cover for you w/ Tower Shield (same as silk trick).
Have the US drop caltrops in front of your opponents.
Have the US feed you or your allies healing potions while you fight.
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SterlingEdge:
Burlap might get too heavy. Besides, silk just sounds cooler. ;)
And remember, a mending or make whole spell means you only buy it once.
Cato Novus:
Better the cloth than the party.
Mind you, the cloth blocks ALL damage from a single attack. That may not be too impressive with a random goblin sling stone, but when you can surround the party with it and get cheap immunity to dragon breath, the value becomes rather ludicrous.
SterlingEdge:
Burlap might get too heavy. Besides, silk just sounds cooler. ;)
And remember, a mending or make whole spell means you only buy it once.Cato Novus:
Better the cloth than the party.
Mind you, the cloth blocks ALL damage from a single attack. That may not be too impressive with a random goblin sling stone, but when you can surround the party with it and get cheap immunity to dragon breath, the value becomes rather ludicrous.
Dragon breath and fireballs are allowed to burn through obstacles.
One guy in my game would cast about 6 of them and have them carry him around like he was on an invisible throne...