As the thread title asks, is an Unseen Servant a viable target for various spells and effects?
I'm asking this specifically because I was thinking about taking the spell with my Bard. I love it both for the flavor and utility--it can feed my allies potions if they drop, retrieve their weapons when disarmed, put some force behind my Silent Image (to go along with my Ghost Sound), reveal Symbols the party has prepared, and generally do servanty stuff. Awesome.
But I starting thinking about what makes the Unseen Servant awesome and what makes it tricky to deal with. The biggest limitation that stood out to me was it's 15' speed. If it's not in the thick of things, it really can't effectively save dead people or retrieve weapons. But in the thick of things, it's susceptible to area attacks that could destroy it, and as a Bard, level 1 spells are far more precious to me than they are to a Sorcerer.
(And no, just getting a wand is not an option--I can't guarantee the presence of absence of any magic item)
Then I wondered, "but hey, I can use Triple Time to buff my entire party's speed for an hour--can I use use that on the Unseen Servant to let him move 25' per turn?"
And while we're at it--what about Haste? Can I buff its speed with that?
The floodgates opened--wait, a big limitation is it's Strength of 2. Can I buff that somehow? Can Bull's Strength give it 6 Strength?
What about Silence? Can I cast Silence centered on my Unseen Servant? The possibilities are endless...
It's not a creature or an object (it's a spell effect), so most spells that target those are right out.
It's not a creature or an object (it's a spell effect), so most spells that target those are right out.
And it's invisible, so you can't get Line of Sight.
It's not a creature or an object (it's a spell effect), so most spells that target those are right out.
This was exactly my first thought too, but a conjuration(creation) spell "manipulates matter to create an object or creature in the place the spellcaster designates."
It's not a creature or an object (it's a spell effect), so most spells that target those are right out.This was exactly my first thought too, but a conjuration(creation) spell "manipulates matter to create an object or creature in the place the spellcaster designates."
Exactly--I was briefly concerned, but it is a real creature.
It's not a creature or an object (it's a spell effect), so most spells that target those are right out.And it's invisible, so you can't get Line of Sight.
This is more troubling--do you need Line of Sight to cast all spells? The spells section clearly states you need Line of Effect (kind of weird that you can't buff or charm people through a window), but never says anything about needing Line of Sight.
This is more troubling--do you need Line of Sight to cast all spells?
No, not all spells. However, with targeted spells "You must be able to see or touch the target, and you must specifically choose that target (Core Rulebook 214)."
This is more troubling--do you need Line of Sight to cast all spells?No, not all spells. However, with targeted spells "You must be able to see or touch the target, and you must specifically choose that target (Core Rulebook 214)."
So, can I touch an unseen servant? Does it pushing against me count?
And even if I can't cast spells on it, can I use Supernatural Abilities, like Triple Time?
Opinions?
I like your thinking I will. Be checking back to see what others think.
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The spell describes the summoned "creature" as a force, rather than a creature or object. I'd rule that spells that target creatures or objects cannot affect an Unseen Servant, but spells that may target forces, or are not restricted in what they may target, may affect an Unseen Servant.
Interesting to note the Servant doesn't have an AC, any ability scores (other than an effective Str, but that's not an actual ability), no saves, or anything else that makes a creature a creature. Technically, even if you were to make it visible (through glitterdust) or were able to see invisible things, you could not attack it directly. Not being able to attack it directly would seem to imply you can't buff it either.
It's force and not creature so any effect that targets creatures is out (mostly spells, but Bardic Performance affect creatures too). It could be debated if spells and effects that affect objects would affect it, I'd say no.
Still, it can be synergized with some spells, especially illusions, by commanding it to perform some task and then creating appropriate illusion covering the area where the task is performed.
The spell describes the summoned "creature" as a force, rather than a creature or object.
So, is labeling the spell Conjuration(Creation) inaccurate? Creation specifically creates a creature or object...
I was initially just curious for my character, but now I'm interested in general--is this a question nobody has asked before?
The spell describes the summoned "creature" as a force, rather than a creature or object.So, is labeling the spell Conjuration(Creation) inaccurate? Creation specifically creates a creature or object...
I was initially just curious for my character, but now I'm interested in general--is this a question nobody has asked before?
Each conjuration spell belongs to one of five subschools. Conjurations transport creatures from another plane of existence to your plane (calling); create objects or effects on the spot (creation); heal (healing); bring manifestations of objects, creatures, or forms of energy to you (summoning); or transport creatures or objects over great distances (teleportation). Creatures you conjure usually—but not always—obey your commands.
Creation is not limited to creatures or objects.
Example: acid fog, cloudkill or any other variation of a fog cloud - no creature or object, only an environmental effect, phase door, create demiplane, to name a few.
What?! The almighty rules-as-written are not internally consistent. Who knew? :-P
do what i do, have the unseen servant carry a rock. move it over to bad guy, cast silence on rock, make unseen servant follow bad guy around rest of fight. sure its easy to take the rock away from an unseen servant, but theyre going to have to spend actions to do it, then actions to get the rock away from them. then have unseen servant go pick up the rock and follow him again :)
Creation is not limited to creatures or objects.
Example: acid fog, cloudkill or any other variation of a fog cloud - no creature or object, only an environmental effect, phase door, create demiplane, to name a few.
I'd argue that fog/clouds are in fact objects, but regardless, if the consensus is "no, you can't buff an unseen servant," then so be it.
The carrying a rock thing is nice, for Silence at least, but my initial and main concern was speed. After all, without a speed increase, the other guy probably walks twice as fast as the servant anyway and could easily avoid the Silence.
Use a needle then. The Unseen Servant is unseen, and a hovering needle pretty hard to spot. The enemy will not know in which direction to run, or even that they should be running.
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The spell describes the summoned "creature" as a force, rather than a creature or object.So, is labeling the spell Conjuration(Creation) inaccurate? Creation specifically creates a creature or object...
Or effects. RAW, you can buff up your unseen servant just as much as you can your obscuring mist.