On pg 214 of the core rules it says that a skilled pilot can modify the basic manoeuver (defined as move half or full speed and then execute an optional turn) by making a piloting test and using the desired manoeuvre (Adjust Bearing, Come to New Heading, etc.). It says that failing the roll causes the ship to do the basic manoeuvre instead of the modified one the pilot hoped for.
My question is: Does the pilot have to decide before making the piloting test whether the ship is going half speed or full speed, or can the pilot wait for the outcome of the pilot roll to choose?
Several of the optional manoeuvres relate to the speed of the ship (eg. you may increase/decrease ship's speed by 1VU and turn 1VU before the sppe has been moved), so does the pilot state what he's hoping for and then rolls to see how close to that he got or does he roll and then declare how to use the roll to modify the basic manoeuvre?
And while were on the topic of manoeuvres, I have a second question pertaining specifically to the Adjust Speed & Bearing manoeuvre. Because a successfull roll allows you to speed up AND turn sooner than your speed would normally allow, which is applied first, the extra speed or the early turn?
Eg. You are piloting a speed 7 vessel and successfully execute the AS&B manoeuvre. You are now going speed 8 and can turn 1VU early, so do you turn at VU6 in your move and continue 2 more VU or turn at 7 VU and continue 1VU more? Or is it the pilot's option?
The reason that I ask is that if you turn at 7VU and travel oen more VU, you haven't actually turned early compared to doing your basic manoeuvre. You're still moving 7 and turning, you just happen to also be going an additional 1VU on top of your basic manoeuvre. Whereas turning at 6VU and continuing 2VU farther could be interpreted as turning 2VU before your speed normally allows, since this turn your speed is effectively 8.