Early level warlock here. I've used Servant a couple times, and both times I was surprised because I forgot the duration. The spell just doesn't get recommended a lot, so I only last session internalized all its features. But what I never considered was commanding it takes your bonus action.
I started looking at convos about it, and also realized it's not a creature, so it doesn't provoke OA's.
So I started having ideas about it's possibilities in combat as a non-Concentration, non-directly-attackable use of my bonus action (when not switching Hex around), which eventually will be a Ritual I can cast up to 59 minutes before I expect a fight.
Have any other support warlocks, or ones in a campaign with medium or light combat, found it's bonus action mechanic to be useful?
Early level warlock here. I've used Servant a couple times, and both times I was surprised because I forgot the duration. The spell just doesn't get recommended a lot, so I only last session internalized all its features. But what I never considered was commanding it takes your bonus action.
I started looking at convos about it, and also realized it's not a creature, so it doesn't provoke OA's.
So I started having ideas about it's possibilities in combat as a non-Concentration, non-directly-attackable use of my bonus action (when not switching Hex around), which eventually will be a Ritual I can cast up to 59 minutes before I expect a fight.
Have any other support warlocks, or ones in a campaign with medium or light combat, found it's bonus action mechanic to be useful?
Cheers :)
I think you need to talk to your DM. If I were your DM, the combat utility would be very limited. Unseen Servant has clear limitations: you can only direct it to interact with objects (ie, not creatures); it cannot attack (ie, not only can it not take the Attack action, it can't do anything else considered an attack); it responds only to explicit direction to interact with a given object and then stops acting; it is mindless (ie, it cannot react to events, nor can it identify objects on its own); and it moves at only 15'.
Your DM may feel differently, but it seems to me that it was clearly intended to not be used in combat.
well i'm thinking, combat areas are full of objects, so they could definitely distract and obstruct. they can pour oil in a specific space. they can activate a trap. they can lift cover <30lbs.
i'd rule RAI they can manipulate creatures at least enough to open a mouth and administer a potion.
Not a fan of the spell in combat. At best it can hold a shield or something similar to provide cover. But I'd think you would have way better options for your Bonus Action. Where Unseen Servant Shines is when you need to move\manipulate something a Mage Hand cannot due to weight, and in a hostile area that one would not expose their familiar to.
Not a fan of the spell in combat. At best it can hold a shield or something similar to provide cover. But I'd think you would have way better options for your Bonus Action. Where Unseen Servant Shines is when you need to move\manipulate something a Mage Hand cannot due to weight, and in a hostile area that one would not expose their familiar to.
cool cool. other than hex, what are your favorite bonus actions? i'm gonna use a feat to take bless, so that's where my combat concentration will go. cheers.
Not a fan of the spell in combat. At best it can hold a shield or something similar to provide cover. But I'd think you would have way better options for your Bonus Action. Where Unseen Servant Shines is when you need to move\manipulate something a Mage Hand cannot due to weight, and in a hostile area that one would not expose their familiar to.
cool cool. other than hex, what are your favorite bonus actions? i'm gonna use a feat to take bless, so that's where my combat concentration will go. cheers.
I got plenty of mileage from Misty Step once I got to 3rd level. Especially since I could still use EB.
It's highly situational, but depending upon why you're in combat it can be extremely useful; for example, let's say you're in combat because you're attacking a gatehouse to try and open a gate, well an unseen servant can be doing that while you're distracting the guards. If you're trying to steal an item it can be retrieving it and so-on. As a spell it's a classic example of one that's as useful as you can make it.
In a simple pitched battle it probably won't be the most useful, but it could potentially carry some form of mobile cover, drop ball bearings, caltrops, etc. to cause some mischief.
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Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I was thinking the same thing with unseen servant. Seems like there should be a lot of potential for utility in and out of combat.
I think creating distractions, such as a noise or lighting something on fire could be potential uses. Pouring a trail of oil, as you mentioned, and then your character setting it alight seems legitimate.
But yea I'm hoping once I get playing the creativity will be sparked situationally.
Let us know what you end up coming up with! Would love to hear the tales.
I think creating distractions, such as a noise or lighting something on fire could be potential uses. Pouring a trail of oil, as you mentioned, and then your character setting it alight seems legitimate.
last session we definitely used it to light a fire on the far side of a bandit camp and stole the mcguffin without sustaining combat.
Not a fan of the spell in combat. At best it can hold a shield or something similar to provide cover. But I'd think you would have way better options for your Bonus Action. Where Unseen Servant Shines is when you need to move\manipulate something a Mage Hand cannot due to weight, and in a hostile area that one would not expose their familiar to.
cool cool. other than hex, what are your favorite bonus actions? i'm gonna use a feat to take bless, so that's where my combat concentration will go. cheers.
Well, the Pact of the Chain offers a consistent bonus action. It can also be combined with Magic Stone if you're finding the familiar's attack bonuses too low.
well it's invisible, can't be attacked, doesn't require concentration, can perform decently complex tasks that require human hands and skill, and can be cast as a ritual. maybe if you rarely get short rests it's an anxious spell but it has clear appeal vs. picking your starting subclass based on bonus action. if you're in the warlock threads you probably can't change your patron?
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Thanks for reading.
Early level warlock here. I've used Servant a couple times, and both times I was surprised because I forgot the duration. The spell just doesn't get recommended a lot, so I only last session internalized all its features. But what I never considered was commanding it takes your bonus action.
I started looking at convos about it, and also realized it's not a creature, so it doesn't provoke OA's.
So I started having ideas about it's possibilities in combat as a non-Concentration, non-directly-attackable use of my bonus action (when not switching Hex around), which eventually will be a Ritual I can cast up to 59 minutes before I expect a fight.
Have any other support warlocks, or ones in a campaign with medium or light combat, found it's bonus action mechanic to be useful?
Cheers :)
The only way for Warlocks to become ritual casters is to take Pact of the Tome and the Book of Ancient Secrets invocation.
If you're going down that path (I like Celestial or Fiend, but Genie has some good options) then it'll be very useful out of combat.
I don't think it'll be particularly useful in combat but I may be wrong.
I think you need to talk to your DM. If I were your DM, the combat utility would be very limited. Unseen Servant has clear limitations: you can only direct it to interact with objects (ie, not creatures); it cannot attack (ie, not only can it not take the Attack action, it can't do anything else considered an attack); it responds only to explicit direction to interact with a given object and then stops acting; it is mindless (ie, it cannot react to events, nor can it identify objects on its own); and it moves at only 15'.
Your DM may feel differently, but it seems to me that it was clearly intended to not be used in combat.
well i'm thinking, combat areas are full of objects, so they could definitely distract and obstruct. they can pour oil in a specific space. they can activate a trap. they can lift cover <30lbs.
i'd rule RAI they can manipulate creatures at least enough to open a mouth and administer a potion.
Not a fan of the spell in combat. At best it can hold a shield or something similar to provide cover. But I'd think you would have way better options for your Bonus Action. Where Unseen Servant Shines is when you need to move\manipulate something a Mage Hand cannot due to weight, and in a hostile area that one would not expose their familiar to.
cool cool. other than hex, what are your favorite bonus actions? i'm gonna use a feat to take bless, so that's where my combat concentration will go. cheers.
I got plenty of mileage from Misty Step once I got to 3rd level. Especially since I could still use EB.
It's highly situational, but depending upon why you're in combat it can be extremely useful; for example, let's say you're in combat because you're attacking a gatehouse to try and open a gate, well an unseen servant can be doing that while you're distracting the guards. If you're trying to steal an item it can be retrieving it and so-on. As a spell it's a classic example of one that's as useful as you can make it.
In a simple pitched battle it probably won't be the most useful, but it could potentially carry some form of mobile cover, drop ball bearings, caltrops, etc. to cause some mischief.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
If you're really worried about maximizing your action economy, just pick one of the many subclasses that gives you a useful bonus action at 1st level
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
i meannn, i'm level 2. i feel like most people asking for advice have already created their character.
Unseen servant would make an ideal way to travel, albeit slowly, if a genie warlock were in their container.
I was thinking the same thing with unseen servant. Seems like there should be a lot of potential for utility in and out of combat.
I think creating distractions, such as a noise or lighting something on fire could be potential uses. Pouring a trail of oil, as you mentioned, and then your character setting it alight seems legitimate.
But yea I'm hoping once I get playing the creativity will be sparked situationally.
Let us know what you end up coming up with! Would love to hear the tales.
last session we definitely used it to light a fire on the far side of a bandit camp and stole the mcguffin without sustaining combat.
Well, the Pact of the Chain offers a consistent bonus action. It can also be combined with Magic Stone if you're finding the familiar's attack bonuses too low.
well it's invisible, can't be attacked, doesn't require concentration, can perform decently complex tasks that require human hands and skill, and can be cast as a ritual. maybe if you rarely get short rests it's an anxious spell but it has clear appeal vs. picking your starting subclass based on bonus action. if you're in the warlock threads you probably can't change your patron?