Comments on: Behind the Spells: Unseen Servant

By: Bret

Bret — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:35:34 +0000

Whoops, forgot your Floating Disk question, Theocrat. Normally, I’d have to say “no” since the disk accompanies ‘you’ out to Close range according to the PHB. To be honest, though, I could easily see having a spell secret to modify that–Spellcraft (DC 11) check to designate another creature to tether the disk to. Technically unseen servant is not a creature, of course, but spell secrets bend the rules without breaking them as this does.

And I wanted to mention that some kind of “levitation stabilizer” would make a great new magic item for BtS: Levitate in the event the caster doesn’t have an unseen servant handy. Hmm, too bad I already wrote that issue.

By: Bret

Bret — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:26:23 +0000

Ampherion–thanks!

Theocrat–I’m unfamiliar with Psionics Unbound, but no matter. As to your questions, yes, I would personally allow an unseen servant to hold a levitator steady and even push him in a direction (up to its 15-ft. speed), not to mention just spinning him to a new facing (which levitate does not make mention of–presumably you’re stuck with the facing you lift off on barring pushing off of something in mid-air).

Limiting the unseen servant to the ground is the GM’s call. Going by the book (the PHB) doesn’t help you either way. But if you like/use the BtS background for the spell, then I’d definitely allow the servant to fly. That’s another great aspect of having fictional backgrounds to the D&D spells–to help arbitrate fun situations like this that players get themselves into.

I’m glad you’re enjoying the series (and liked the “Tenser” nod). Remember that BtS will be continuing even though it’s not here at KQ. And no ‘Compendium’ yet? I thought everyone had one by now!

By: Theocrat

Theocrat — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:41:28 +0000

One application of unseen servant that came into question this past weekend when we were reviewing Paradigm Concepts book Psionics Unbound. In it, they have a feats Expert Levitation (you don’t being to accrue fighting penalties for the first three rounds) and Improved Levitation (you can make a 5′ horizontal step).
It was in reviewing these two feats that made us further look into the Levitation spell.
With Levitation you are unsteady and suffer penalties for being unsteady. Thus one of our options was to cast unseen servant to steady the “levitator” first and foremost, but possibly also push the “levitator” in a horizontal position without the Improved Levitation.
Thus can unseen servant hold a person under the levitation spell steady so as to not suffer penalties or can an unseen servant push someone that is levitating in a horizontal direction? PFBeta says the spell can drag 100 pounds (or exert 20lbs of force).
In either case, does an unseen servant need to be limited to a terra firma aspect or can it be floating in the air?
Can a “Tenser’s” Floating Disk be cast to follow an Unseen Servant (instead of “you”, as normally it is within an interval of 5′ of “you.”). This is not something that is addressed in the Behind the Spells Floating Disk article here on KQ.
Thank you. I always enjoy the Behind the Spells and have several of your PDF’s (should get the compendium). I really enjoyed “Tenser’s” Floating Disk with your teasing knowledge of Tenser and his Greyhawk roots and I appreciate you adding the sneaky information.
Be Well. Be Well Served.
Theocrat Issak

By: Ampherion

Ampherion — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:39:07 +0000

A Windbag of Awesome!

By: Bret

Bret — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:35:14 +0000

Thanks, Tauster! If you do use the attendant, let us know how it goes.

By: Tauster

Tauster — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:52:19 +0000

Congrats – another great spell-related idea!

The next time one of my players casts Unseen Servant, they’ll hear a low sight or something other, unexpected. Let’s see how they react! )