Anyone going to read the manual before playing?

[Disgustipated]

I can't help but remember the "good ole' days" back when I read the Civ2 and SMAC manual before even playing the game. I admit I'm spoiled by a good tutorial system and civilpedia these days. Props to anyone who read those manuals, they were rather large thick books. Back in the days when I had more self discipline, and could wait for the good things.

As for the thread question, I suppose you could include the civilpedia entries as a manual for your response to this question. I admit I read neither for Civ5, I'm not sure how much it hurt my game. I used to be so disciplined about reading the entire manual before playing games. And I miss the days of witty manuals back in the Baldur's Gate and Fallout days (both manuals were great).

Even Steam versions have manuals in case you aren't aware, just have to look for it. These days I try to read at least part of the manual before starting, but very rarely do I get through the whole thing. Sounds crazy, but I'm almost nostalgic for those huge thick manuals of Civ2 and SMAC. Of course in the old days it might take nearly an hour to install your game, which gave you time to read.

 

[King Abbas]

Well.. I don't know if I would read the entire manual before jumping in the game, but I have no doubt that I'll read it all in the first couple of days.. that's part of the fun for me.

 

[rastak]

Nope, I intend to know most of it before I fire up game 1.

 

[Ivan Hunger]

I doubt the manual will be able to tell us anything that we didn't already learn from obsessively following the news on this game for months.

 

[DeutschDachs]

I used to always read the manual as a kid because there were cool pictures and I had no idea how games controlled. Now I realize most games follow certain control schemes and I've played Civ for so long and looked at so much Civ VI stuff I feel I know most of it going in. In game advisors will help patch the cracks for my first couple games hopefully.

Then again most games don't really come with manuals anymore anyway

 

[rastak]

In the old days you almost had to. Before the internet became a thing you were flying blind on your first play. I'd spend a couple of hours reading the 100+ page manual (usually that long) and sometime even a strategy guide before firing up the game in earnest. I know for the original Xcom I read it cover to cover before I started my first game.

 

[Ebrim]

I think the only game I've looked through the manual for in recent years was Pike&Shot. I may look through CivVI but not before playing.

 

[Lucius_]

No. Last game manual I've read was for Oblivion. Before that, can't remember. I'm sure I'll browse the civilopedia on an as needed basis though.

 

[Acken]

There is a manual ?

 

[Zaarin]

What is this "manual" you speak of? Is it a...food? I may spend a few hours in the Civilopedia, though...

 

[God of Kings]

The manual has the credits as well, including voice acting credits.

 

[Big J Money]

Was there a hard copy manual with physical Civ V? I'm assuming they no longer include one.

 

[footslogger]

I will spend an hour or two reading the civilopedia before playing the first game. Always do. Helps to make me feel prepared and builds up the sense of anticipation. It'll be more skim reading than reading in detail - that can come later when I need to know something specific.

 

[djira]

Let me rephrase the question from the OP and see if there is a different response.

If 2K Games were to release a manual or the official Civilopedia on Friday after the NDA is up and most of the secrets are revealed from the YouTubers, how many people here would be reading over every stat and detail in the weeks leading up to the official release? I would enjoy watching the YouTube Lets Plays as well, but I would really enjoy diving into the specific rules that I am interested in.

Thanks!

 

[dturtle1]

Depends...if it is a PDF then no....If it is a few bi-folded laminated sheets with a couple of staples then also no... If it is a proper book based manual like the Civ4 one then I will absolutely read it whilst installing the game . I am assuming i will be looking at the picture book instead though, but that is ok

 

[Janskey]

I doubt the manual will be able to tell us anything that we didn't already learn from obsessively following the news on this game for months.

My thoughts exactly. Civfanatics IS the manual.

I really did like those thick paperbacks, already implying how huge the game will be just by looking at them.

 

[darko82]

Unfortunately, there will not be any manual. Except the very basic one how to install the game These days they do not make printed manuals.

 

[whirlwind91]

There is going to be a digital one, for sure.
If not the first thing to do, surely I'll spend a lot of time reading it to understand the mechanics as well as possible. Although I play Civ V on an above normal level, there are still things I do not understand how they work completely, so now it's the chance to make a good start

The other question is: manual or civilopedia? which is more easy to read to understand the mechanics?

 

[JimmyBanks]

Don't read the manual to do anything. Not going to do it for a game - although with EU4 I wouldn't mind a decent manual.

 

[Balkans]

I plan to turtle couple of games - i want to explore and learn it myself.