Possible suggestion -- single pilot/gunner be limited to shooting only directly in front of him (i.e. he is basically aiming his ship at the target to make an attack -- weapons are fixed front facing positions).
This is also part of the staple of solo fighter pilots. As rad42 pointed, out, flying does not stop to fire, it is done as a simultaneous action. However, anything that DOES affect flying will end up affecting any shots made as well, IMO.
Perhaps set it up so that there is a single skill involved for this type fighting. Especially since your flying skill is also gonna end up affecting your DB in such tiny vessels as well (i.e. dodging and making it harder for foe to line up on you).
Perhaps call the skill "Dogfighting" and making it apply as required. It would be different than general piloting (as that does not involve the normal dogfighting skills).
As I have said before, one thing we are attempting to accomplish is preventing skill bloat, but if the situation really really calls for it, then adding a new skill should be considered.
I agree with most of that, particularly with regard to fixed forward weaponry. A pilot would not be able to fly his ship, and operate a weapon facing other than forward, or on a turret, at the same time. I don't think a dogfighting skill is called for here. Dogfighting would be part of the skill CS&M Combat Piloting when that skill is taken for an appropriate ship (ie, starfighter). I think that Nicholas' idea of an added penalty (-20) to the maneuver roll if a pilot is also gunner that round should be adequate...if an added penalty is thought to be needed. If that pilot isn't going to take a shot that round then he doesn't incur the penalty...but he can't shoot either.
Actually, I would rather that the OB portion of the OB/DB split be applied to any pilot directed weapon fire, in place of the gunnery bonus. This would force a pilot to go all OB on certain rounds to get the best shot possible, at the expense of his DB of course.
But, on reflection, Nicholas' idea would tend to separate the men from the boys...at least on solo fighters. Using his suggestion, only the really skilled pilots could manage to consistantly get good enough results from the maneuver roll to make a good show of themselves dogfighting. Historically, it would make sense. A fighter pilot with five confirmed kills is called an ace. Five doesn't seem like a very large number of kills for such a appellation as ace (easy for me to say
), but if many pilots had five kills it wouldn't mean much. You may need ten or more to make ace.
Either way, its not an easy task, to fly and shoot simultaneously. But, history shows it is possible. There should be a way to do so in HARP-SF.
My .02