spirit services question, what do they count as one service? Options

[Yerameyahu]

Spirits are certainly capable of not brilliantly using multiple powers to fulfill your request, especially if you've annoyed them. Maybe the spirit enjoys punching, or doesn't realize they're all wearing Fire Protection, or doesn't prioritize targets. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Even between 'doing the optimal thing' and 'doing the best that it knows', who knows what can happen? (Answer: the GM, hehe.) Theoretically, you can make very specific 'genie-wish' commands, I guess. Obviously, I'm only talking about situations where this would be warranted.

[shon]

Those are some great suggestions, you're right that the spirits might not be the brightest sapient beings on the planet so they might not do what's optimal to kill 10 grunts and do it one by one, and by then the guys will surely either call backup or just 'geek the mage' as I heard people say (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I was afraid spirits were far too powerful but now I know that even if they are powerful, there are ways to deal with them and the players going for a smoke while a spirit does all the dirty (wet)work!

[Shinobi Killfist]

The line I quoted above does not make an "encounter-based" distinction how many service this constitutes.

@Yerameyahu: Are spirits even capable of doing less than their best?

The line you quoted does not make a distinction one way or the other and is not the total description on services. While it is not limited by foes, it is usually limited by fights. It will handle reinforcements in the same fights, but usually not the next fight. Now if you gave a command kill everyone in that building it will do so. But a command to help you in a fight ends when the fight does, he doesn't keep in fight mode for when you get ambushed a minute later. But the more your demands take advantage of what a service is the more your GM can make your spirits unhappy and uncooperative with you.