This one has been a little bit of a head turner to interpret. To make a long story short, the "actions" it can take are well defined, but its movement speed combined with its shapelessness leaves its method of locomotion a big question mark.
Unseen Servant
School: Conjuration
a. This spell creates an Invisible, mindless, shapeless, Medium 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. It has AC 10, 1 Hit Point, and a Strength of 2, and it can’t attack. If it drops to 0 Hit Points, the spell ends.
b. 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 servant can perform simple tasks that a human could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring drinks. Once you give the command, the servant performs the task to the best of its ability until it completes the task, then waits for your next command.
c. If you command the servant to perform a task that would move it more than 60 feet away from you, the spell ends.
Section (a) indicates that something is conjured in an unoccupied space that has a size of "medium". It has an AC, hit points, and strength score. Therefore, it is not "formless" - it has volume and mass (perhaps emulating mass). There is no indication of weight. The unseen servant is "shapeless", so it operates like an ooze that shifts its shape in order to accomplish the tasks its been assigned. Section (b) indicates this shapeless something can do "tasks" that a human can perform all of which require an Action. It has a movement speed of 15 feet.
While its clear what actions it can perform, its movement is left somewhat vague. To preface, "movement" is not an "action" in DnD 5e. Section (b) defines actions and then a movement speed of 15 feet. So the spell does not say its movement is that of a human - that would be impossible given its a shapeless medium force (basically a force ooze or cloud). I don't see how it wouldn't be able to shift its form to help it move along surfaces, especially since its just a magic force effect and probably has negligible weight (if it has any at all). What do you guys think?
It’s described as a “force”, so I’d say it can hover as well as move at ground level. But it’s within reason to rule that the lack of a defined other speed could mean it needs to behave as though it walks.
This one has been a little bit of a head turner to interpret. To make a long story short, the "actions" it can take are well defined, but its movement speed combined with its shapelessness leaves its method of locomotion a big question mark.
Unseen Servant
School: Conjuration
a. This spell creates an Invisible, mindless, shapeless, Medium 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. It has AC 10, 1 Hit Point, and a Strength of 2, and it can’t attack. If it drops to 0 Hit Points, the spell ends.
b. 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 servant can perform simple tasks that a human could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring drinks. Once you give the command, the servant performs the task to the best of its ability until it completes the task, then waits for your next command.
c. If you command the servant to perform a task that would move it more than 60 feet away from you, the spell ends.
Section (a) indicates that something is conjured in an unoccupied space that has a size of "medium". It has an AC, hit points, and strength score. Therefore, it is not "formless" - it has volume and mass (perhaps emulating mass). There is no indication of weight. The unseen servant is "shapeless", so it operates like an ooze that shifts its shape in order to accomplish the tasks its been assigned. Section (b) indicates this shapeless something can do "tasks" that a human can perform all of which require an Action. It has a movement speed of 15 feet.
While its clear what actions it can perform, its movement is left somewhat vague. To preface, "movement" is not an "action" in DnD 5e. Section (b) defines actions and then a movement speed of 15 feet. So the spell does not say its movement is that of a human - that would be impossible given its a shapeless medium force (basically a force ooze or cloud). I don't see how it wouldn't be able to shift its form to help it move along surfaces, especially since its just a magic force effect and probably has negligible weight (if it has any at all). What do you guys think?
I don't understand your question or what is the issue? What are you wanting this to do? It is basically an invisible maid/butler that can only do maid/butler tasks. It is not a bodyguard or anything that might be construed as useful in a combat situation.
I think part of the confusion comes from trying to apply real-world physics to the way it works. Things like volume and mass aren’t really in-game terms. This is magic; it just works. And it works within the parameters of the spell, no more or less. The idea that it operates like an ooze is as reasonable a guess as any, but it’s effectively a house rule, as RAW makes no mention of that. I would also argue that an ooze is not “shapeless,” it is ooze-shaped. The fact that it can change its shape isn’t the same as not having a shape.
While it’s an interesting exercise to think about how an amorphous entity moves, does it matter in game? Outside of maybe trying to send it down a hallway to set off traps (which would be a questionable use and definitely up to a DM ruling) when would it come up wether it’s a blob on the floor or one floating around or walking or whatever?
The servant can perform simple tasks that a human could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring drinks.
Simple things that a human could do doesn’t include flying or traversing areas in the manner of an ooze.
The servant can perform simple tasks that a human could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring drinks.
Simple things that a human could do doesn’t include flying or traversing areas in the manner of an ooze.
I tend to disagree, just based on the description in the spell. It simply says the servant can move up to 15 feet. The portion describing what tasks it can perform is separate from the movement. Since it is a force, it doesn't really make sense that it would be stuck to traveling on the ground. Because it never specifies what kind of movement speed it has, it would seem reasonable that the force would be able to move 15 feet in any direction, including up.
I also don't think this would really change anything about the game, and kind of makes sense for a magical servant to be able to fly. How else will they be able to clean the cobwebs off of the chandelier? Or clean the gutters? Etc. Because they can't lift very much, they aren't going to be able to drop a boulder on an enemy or anything like that, so giving them the ability to move 15ft in any direction I feel makes sense and doesn't really open it up to abuse.
Yeah, it definitely cannot fly. Its a force effect programmed to emulate the capabilities of a competent human servant with no particular craft or trade. As someone mentioned above, its a moving force field that is only visible to those who can see invisible creatures. It doesn't really walk, swim, or climb. It just moves to a position that would be within the limitations of a human servant. It doesn't necessarily exert any weight on the floor unless commanded to do so, at which point it emulates a weight of 30 pounds due to its description of having a strength of 2. That leaves some interpretation on how it interacts with walls or water, but humans definitely can move through water or up a vertical surface. It would be up to the DM how much it emulates a human servant in such a regard (does it only move at half speed through water or up a vertical surface to emulate a human doing the same thing, or does it just move at full speed because its a force effect?)
Edit: In regards to that last question, as a DM I'd prefer that the servant move at its full speed of 15 feet to avoid slowing down the game.
This one has been a little bit of a head turner to interpret. To make a long story short, the "actions" it can take are well defined, but its movement speed combined with its shapelessness leaves its method of locomotion a big question mark.
Unseen Servant
School: Conjuration
a. This spell creates an Invisible, mindless, shapeless, Medium 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. It has AC 10, 1 Hit Point, and a Strength of 2, and it can’t attack. If it drops to 0 Hit Points, the spell ends.
b. 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 servant can perform simple tasks that a human could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring drinks. Once you give the command, the servant performs the task to the best of its ability until it completes the task, then waits for your next command.
c. If you command the servant to perform a task that would move it more than 60 feet away from you, the spell ends.
Section (a) indicates that something is conjured in an unoccupied space that has a size of "medium". It has an AC, hit points, and strength score. Therefore, it is not "formless" - it has volume and mass (perhaps emulating mass). There is no indication of weight. The unseen servant is "shapeless", so it operates like an ooze that shifts its shape in order to accomplish the tasks its been assigned. Section (b) indicates this shapeless something can do "tasks" that a human can perform all of which require an Action. It has a movement speed of 15 feet.
While its clear what actions it can perform, its movement is left somewhat vague. To preface, "movement" is not an "action" in DnD 5e. Section (b) defines actions and then a movement speed of 15 feet. So the spell does not say its movement is that of a human - that would be impossible given its a shapeless medium force (basically a force ooze or cloud). I don't see how it wouldn't be able to shift its form to help it move along surfaces, especially since its just a magic force effect and probably has negligible weight (if it has any at all). What do you guys think?
It’s described as a “force”, so I’d say it can hover as well as move at ground level. But it’s within reason to rule that the lack of a defined other speed could mean it needs to behave as though it walks.
I don't understand your question or what is the issue? What are you wanting this to do? It is basically an invisible maid/butler that can only do maid/butler tasks. It is not a bodyguard or anything that might be construed as useful in a combat situation.
I think part of the confusion comes from trying to apply real-world physics to the way it works. Things like volume and mass aren’t really in-game terms. This is magic; it just works. And it works within the parameters of the spell, no more or less.
The idea that it operates like an ooze is as reasonable a guess as any, but it’s effectively a house rule, as RAW makes no mention of that. I would also argue that an ooze is not “shapeless,” it is ooze-shaped. The fact that it can change its shape isn’t the same as not having a shape.
While it’s an interesting exercise to think about how an amorphous entity moves, does it matter in game? Outside of maybe trying to send it down a hallway to set off traps (which would be a questionable use and definitely up to a DM ruling) when would it come up wether it’s a blob on the floor or one floating around or walking or whatever?
To me, this is covered in section B.
The servant can perform simple tasks that a human could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring drinks.
Simple things that a human could do doesn’t include flying or traversing areas in the manner of an ooze.
I tend to disagree, just based on the description in the spell. It simply says the servant can move up to 15 feet. The portion describing what tasks it can perform is separate from the movement. Since it is a force, it doesn't really make sense that it would be stuck to traveling on the ground. Because it never specifies what kind of movement speed it has, it would seem reasonable that the force would be able to move 15 feet in any direction, including up.
I also don't think this would really change anything about the game, and kind of makes sense for a magical servant to be able to fly. How else will they be able to clean the cobwebs off of the chandelier? Or clean the gutters? Etc. Because they can't lift very much, they aren't going to be able to drop a boulder on an enemy or anything like that, so giving them the ability to move 15ft in any direction I feel makes sense and doesn't really open it up to abuse.
This subject is also discussed here:
https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/76533/must-an-unseen-servant-stay-on-the-ground
Yeah, it definitely cannot fly. Its a force effect programmed to emulate the capabilities of a competent human servant with no particular craft or trade. As someone mentioned above, its a moving force field that is only visible to those who can see invisible creatures. It doesn't really walk, swim, or climb. It just moves to a position that would be within the limitations of a human servant. It doesn't necessarily exert any weight on the floor unless commanded to do so, at which point it emulates a weight of 30 pounds due to its description of having a strength of 2. That leaves some interpretation on how it interacts with walls or water, but humans definitely can move through water or up a vertical surface. It would be up to the DM how much it emulates a human servant in such a regard (does it only move at half speed through water or up a vertical surface to emulate a human doing the same thing, or does it just move at full speed because its a force effect?)
Edit: In regards to that last question, as a DM I'd prefer that the servant move at its full speed of 15 feet to avoid slowing down the game.