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RAW: Yes. These maneuvers are limited to all the effect inside stat block, including the requirements, unless the larger activity modifies it. It's how the Subordinate Actions general rules, rules about this.
An action might allow you to use a simpler action—usually one of the Basic Actions—in a different circumstance or with different effects. This subordinate action still has its normal traits and effects, but it's modified in any ways listed in the larger action. For example, an activity that tells you to Stride up to half your Speed alters the normal distance you can move in a Stride. The Stride would still have the move trait, would still trigger reactions that occur based on movement, and so on. The subordinate action doesn't gain any of the traits of the larger action unless specified. The action that allows you to use a subordinate action doesn't require you to spend more actions or reactions to do so; that cost is already factored in.
Using an activity is not the same as using any of its subordinate actions. For example, the quickened condition you get from the haste spell lets you spend an extra action each turn to Stride or Strike, but you couldn't use the extra action for an activity that includes a Stride or Strike. As another example, if you used an action that specified, “If the next action you use is a Strike,” an activity that includes a Strike wouldn't count, because the next thing you are doing is starting an activity, not using the Strike basic action.
So RAW the Spell allows you to attempt to Disarm, Reposition, Shove, or Trip the target using a spell attack roll in a target at 60 ft range. But it doesn't change the requirements of the maneuvers, like free-hand and relative size. But also these actions still are affect by feats that changes them like Titan Wrestler.
RAI: Probably the spell intention wasn't made to consider the requirements of the maneuvers and this was simply forgotten in the spell effect. But also I think that all other skill feats modifiers should be ignored too.
Balance: It's a rank 2 Spell. It's expensive enough IMO to justify the removal of the requirements. Specially because there are other ways to do ranged maneuvers just changing your weapon.
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RAW - It lets you make a maneuver at range using a spell attack roll instead of athletics. Everything else should be as normal.
Would I run it that way? No.
I would probably have the spell be able to affect creatures up to a size based on the spell slot used. And I wouldn't allow skill feats to affect how the maneuver works.
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It isn't really a subordinate action. It is using the maneuver actions as part of the spell effect. You (the caster) isn't the one doing the maneuver. The spell is.
Which is also why it is done at the 60 foot range of the spell instead of the reach of the caster that is normal for a combat maneuver action.
I wouldn't have the spell checking for the size of the target creature. It is already costing a spell slot to make one attempt. It should be more powerful than a generally available action that can be repeated with no resource cost.
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It isn't really a subordinate action. It is using the maneuver actions as part of the spell effect. You (the caster) isn't the one doing the maneuver. The spell is.
Which is also why it is done at the 60 foot range of the spell instead of the reach of the caster that is normal for a combat maneuver action.
I wouldn't have the spell checking for the size of the target creature. It is already costing a spell slot to make one attempt. It should be more powerful than a generally available action that can be repeated with no resource cost.
The spell is very clear that the caster is doing the maneuver:
"you move a foe or something they carry. You can attempt to Disarm, Reposition, Shove, or Trip the target using a spell attack roll instead of an Athletics check."
RAW, except for the range and the spell attack where specific trumps general, all usual rules of the actions apply.
We're homebrewing here because we don't like the idea that these usual rules apply.
While there's a rigorous RAW that aligns with you, Raven, there's also the more natural reading that it's telekinesis and independent of the state of one's body. Paizo has explicitly tried in PF2 to avoid writing to the lawyers plus likely felt they didn't have to spell out the basics of a trope such as telekinesis.
Also, there's the awkward situation that a Sprite casts this spell worse than a Jotunborn when they're otherwise equivalent casters (even with Weapon Storm & weapons of much different size.) IMO, if it wanted size of the caster to matter, they'd kind of have to spell it out, even if redundant by rigorous RAW.
That said, it may have been more balanced if there'd been a size limit that increased with Heightening. Unsure though, given the action & opportunity cost. I guess one could spam it too easily, say with cheap scrolls or a staff. Hmm.
Specially because there are other ways to do ranged maneuvers just changing your weapon.From 60ft away ? Without needing to invest in STR or Athletics ?
Not exactly that much distance because most Ranged Trip weapons are 20ft but due to how ranged weapons rules works you still can do a 40ft easily with a -2, especially if you are a fighter and that's would be probably the same attack roll value that a spellcaster would use with Telecnetic Manouver spell.
My point was just to exemplify that at last for trip the ranged maneuvers are not that rare (kineticists also can make ranged Shove pretty easily) to do without use a limited resource like spell slots, special a rank 2 one and still need to have a free hand and a Titan Wrestler.
Anyways that was my thoughts about a possible RAI and Balance, RAW the spell is subject to both requirements.
Specially because there are other ways to do ranged maneuvers just changing your weapon.From 60ft away ? Without needing to invest in STR or Athletics ?Not exactly that much distance because most Ranged Trip weapons are 20ft but due to how ranged weapons rules works you still can do a 40ft easily with a -2, especially if you are a fighter and that's would be probably the same attack roll value that a spellcaster would use with Telecnetic Manouver spell.
My point was just to exemplify that at last for trip the ranged maneuvers are not that rare (kineticists also can make ranged Shove pretty easily) to do without use a limited resource like spell slots, special a rank 2 one and still need to have a free hand and a Titan Wrestler.
Anyways that was my thoughts about a possible RAI and Balance, RAW the spell is subject to both requirements.
Ranged Trip specifically cannot be attempted beyond the first range increment, and even within this increment it's at a -2 penalty. The only way to get any kind of range is by being an Inventor*, since then you can slap Ranged Trip on something like a Sukgung and trip people 200 feet out. But then, you're playing an Inventor, so there's that.
As for the spell, I just let it ignore size and hands.
*Or getting Far Shot from Ranger, since 40 feet ranged trip from a Bola is usually good enough.
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The only way to get any kind of range is by being an Inventor*, since then you can slap Ranged Trip on something like a Sukgung and trip people 200 feet out. But then, you're playing an Inventor, so there's that.
You can get it on a 10th level aiuvarin character [Multitalented (inventor) + Basic Modification and no ability requirement]. So a 10th level gunslinger could use that Sukgung to range trip from 200' [or 400' away if they pick up Far Shot] ;).
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While there's a rigorous RAW that aligns with you, Raven, there's also the more natural reading that it's telekinesis and independent of the state of one's body. Paizo has explicitly tried in PF2 to avoid writing to the lawyers plus likely felt they didn't have to spell out the basics of a trope such as telekinesis.
Also, there's the awkward situation that a Sprite casts this spell worse than a Jotunborn when they're otherwise equivalent casters (even with Weapon Storm & weapons of much different size.) IMO, if it wanted size of the caster to matter, they'd kind of have to spell it out, even if redundant by rigorous RAW.
That said, it may have been more balanced if there'd been a size limit that increased with Heightening. Unsure though, given the action & opportunity cost. I guess one could spam it too easily, say with cheap scrolls or a staff. Hmm.
When it comes to RAW, Raven Black is correct. The spell says you're doing a Trip, so the rules of Trip apply. The spell grants an exception to use Spell Attack instead of the usual check, so you do that, along with a range exception because the spell has a Range. There's no exception for any other rules of Trip/Grab/etc.
Now, should you run it that way? I probably wouldn't because doing so really limits what the spell can work on without taking Titan Wrestler. That'd be a house rule, but it's a totally reasonable one.
People just need to keep the two distinct.
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While there's a rigorous RAW that aligns with you, Raven, there's also the more natural reading that it's telekinesis and independent of the state of one's body. Paizo has explicitly tried in PF2 to avoid writing to the lawyers plus likely felt they didn't have to spell out the basics of a trope such as telekinesis.
So while I'd also run it this way, I think the use of "rigorous RAW" and "lawyer" here is kind of misrepresentative. That suggests some highly technical reading or some strict/absurd interpretation of language here... but we're actually talking about something just plainly spelled out in the trip action.
The only way to get any kind of range is by being an Inventor*, since then you can slap Ranged Trip on something like a Sukgung and trip people 200 feet out. But then, you're playing an Inventor, so there's that.You can get it on a 10th level aiuvarin character [Multitalented (inventor) + Basic Modification and no ability requirement]. So a 10th level gunslinger could use that Sukgung to range trip from 200' [or 400' away if they pick up Far Shot] ;).
Absolutely. Though usually the problem I run into the most with these kinds of setups is that characters who want to be using ranged weapons are usually not built for Athletics maneuvers, since Athletics requires proper investment into Strength (especially with the -2 from Ranged Trip tacked on) to work.
The best setup I saw for this was actually a STR based Aiuvarin Precision Ranger who did what you say (Mutitalented at 9th for Inventor -> Initial Modification at 10th) and slapped Blunt Shot on a Gauntlet Bow. With Far Shot he had 120 feet of Ranged Trip, which he mostly used to bring down annoying fliers. Called it his pocket net gun.
Ranged Trip specifically cannot be attempted beyond the first range increment, and even within this increment it's at a -2 penalty. The only way to get any kind of range is by being an Inventor*, since then you can slap Ranged Trip on something like a Sukgung and trip people 200 feet out. But then, you're playing an Inventor, so there's that.
As for the spell, I just let it ignore size and hands.
*Or getting Far Shot from Ranger, since 40 feet ranged trip from a Bola is usually good enough.
Oh that's true. I have a bad habit to not pay too much attention to the first phrase due frequently it's used to put lore text. My bad.
While there's a rigorous RAW that aligns with you, Raven, there's also the more natural reading that it's telekinesis and independent of the state of one's body. Paizo has explicitly tried in PF2 to avoid writing to the lawyers plus likely felt they didn't have to spell out the basics of a trope such as telekinesis.So while I'd also run it this way, I think the use of "rigorous RAW" and "lawyer" here is kind of misrepresentative. That suggests some highly technical reading or some strict/absurd interpretation of language here... but we're actually talking about something just plainly spelled out in the trip action.
The problem with not using RAW is that you need to be very reasonable and probably have a good understanding of how the system works. Because many people tend to use RAI in a very biased way.
Absolutely. Though usually the problem I run into the most with these kinds of setups is that characters who want to be using ranged weapons are usually not built for Athletics maneuvers, since Athletics requires proper investment into Strength (especially with the -2 from Ranged Trip tacked on) to work.
The best setup I saw for this was actually a STR based Aiuvarin Precision Ranger who did what you say (Mutitalented at 9th for Inventor -> Initial Modification at 10th) and slapped Blunt Shot on a Gauntlet Bow. With Far Shot he had 120 feet of Ranged Trip, which he mostly used to bring down annoying fliers. Called it his pocket net gun.
I've seen it on a Way of the Vanguard Gunslinger using a Sukgung w/ Reinforced Stock and it did ok. And, yes, they used it for those pesky fliers. Nothing brought them more joy than tripping a flyer from more than a football field away. ;)