Do you read the manual?

[homersheineken]

I am not a nerd; I am a scientific specialist who would easily turn into an unhappy citizen whenever the word nerd is spread about.
... It's just such a nerdy word.

But yes! I will read this manual and I will use its information to give myself a gist of the things unmentioned/changed in Civ IV's mechanics! Hopefully with a better understanding of them I can later unmake them with mods and ruin the game for everyone but me.

Definition of a nerd: I am not a nerd; I am a scientific specialist who would easily turn into an unhappy citizen whenever the word nerd is spread about.
... It's just such a nerdy word.

lol just teasin

 

[Kazz]

I've been a manual fiend since I was a kid. I used to bring the Wing Commander (SNES) manual with me everywhere I went, even though it was small and crappy, just because I loved to stare at the diagrams of the spaceships. I don't know what it is, really, but reading the manual is the next best thing to playing the game. I remember that Civ 2's manual was ****ing excellent, HUGE. So was Alpha Centauri's. They were all filled with so much useful stuff (like, did you know the wind patterns on Alpha Centauri run from west to east? The west side of a mountain in SMAC always has more rainfall, therefore, more nutrient output.)

I'm positive Civ 4's manual will be fantastic. I'll read it whenever I can't actually be playing the game, such as on the pot, between classes, or right before bed.

I'm sure you were all really, really interested in that. This poll is probably the least interesting out of any poll ever posted, but, hey.

 

[Velvet-Glove]

I'm too impatient to read a manual all the way through first.

My usual course of action is to skim through the manual then toss it aside in order to dive into the game for a quick look-see and an experimental game. At this point I either discover I haven't got a clue and go back to the manual or I'm getting on OK and just need to refer to the book for a clue about some feature or other. After a few days I will actually read the manual thoroughly and realise that this is what I should have done right from the start.

All good fun, though. :

 

[tmarcl]

I never read manuals. I can read your palm lines, if you like, though.

But I might make an exception with Civ IV. i will skim it while I am installing the game.

That's what I tend to do, too.

Marc

 

[Tyranthraxus]

I'll read it while installing the game.
When done installing, then I'll play the game.
When I get ready for bed I'll read it more thoroghly.
When I'm done reading it I'll jump into reading the 400+ page strategy guide, when I'm not playing the game.

 

[Zukatah]

I'll open the box inside EBGames to get the manual, then when I get in the subway, I'll read some more and after that, I'll read during the installation IF there's no cool animations, tooltips and stuff like that during the installation.

By then, I should have a pretty good idea and I'll of course bring it with my in my classes, if the seminary is boring, you know I'll try to learn more about this great game! What the hell, it's applied political science..... way better than my classes!

 

[Myzenium]

It's my favorite way to geek out. I read the manuals of every game I had ever owned. Sometimes I read the entire manual before I began playing.

For Civ4, I will definitely read topics I know to be new or changed on previous Civ's before I start my first game. I intend to be prepared, so I'll look up things like civics, promotions, the new combat system, using the camera, health, maintenance, and Great People.

 

[tcjsavannah]

I hire and manage techs. If I even get a whiff of that attitude in an interview, they immediately go in the no-way-in-hell-am-i-hiring-this-person pile.

The manual is one of my favorite parts! I love reading game manuals! I'm excited as hell to read it. Wish I could get it a couple days early so I Can read all about it before I play. Absolutely wil lread it front and back.

I've found your next hire, Evanminn.

 

[agoodfella]

speaking of which,

does anyone think the Civ IV strategy guide is worth getting?

 

[Phoenix_56721]

I will jump right in and play the game as soon as I get it. Then bring the manual with me to work to read when I get a chance...

 

[vorius]

when it comes to games or new gadgets, I totally blow by the maual and try to figure it out myself. If I run into any trouble then I will consult the manual for that specific problem, and nothing more. So usualy I end up never reading anyhting in a manual since most games are so inutitive in design.

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

I try to memorize all the important bits before playing the game.

 

[vbraun]

I'm bringing the manual to school to read. Much better for me then sleeping in class.

 

[cirion]

Plus, Civ manuals tend to be well-written. It's not just gameplay mechanics, there's good stuff in there for history nerds about the origins of civilizations, little factoids about famous events, etc. And I imagine there will be an "If You've Played Civilization Before" section that people can read during installation to find out what's changed since Civ 3.

 

[Rayanth]

I'll be working the day it comes in, and I'll have the honor of receiving the shipment it will be delivered in -- at my store, MY copy will be the first ever opened =)

Sadly I'll be working, so the instruction book will be my lunch-break literature for the day.

 

[Jonathan]

I write manuals. If I don't read 'em, who will?

 

[MarcAntiny]

Normally I read a bit during installation. Then play and read as I go along. And whenever I take a bathroom break I'll bring the manual with me

If I have to move away from the game for any reason, the manual comes with me in order to maintain the harmony... bathroom, school, work, eating... under my pillow, hopefully there is something to osmosis...

 

[Rince]

I'm going to my girlfriends parents for a long weekend just after the release of Civ over here. Hope I can pick it up on the way to the airport so i can at least read the manual.

Rince

 

[Chopperhead]

I just really dont feel like reading it anyone who has been playing civ for awile already knows the basic gameplay and all that and the concept of it all just dont really see the point besides checking the index for the "whats new" section like they had in the civ3 manual. But mostly I just like to figure things out on my own I find it makes things more interesting to just jump right in and see for myself but thats just me Im good at just figuring stuff out on my own also sometimes I find that the manual just confuseis me im not really a computer guy dont know much about them so I find I get lost alot so................... W/E it works for me.

 

[Mercade]

I hire and manage techs. If I even get a whiff of that attitude in an interview, they immediately go in the no-way-in-hell-am-i-hiring-this-person pile.

Essentially, they are someone who is purposely handicapping themselves compared to people who read manuals. I want the person who wants to know as much as possible not the one who only knows as much as they happen to run across.

I've never been able to figure out why some people think not trying to know as much as possible is something to not only be proud of but something to brag about.

First things first: welcome to CFC

As for the

manual, I'll read it front to back before playing my first game.

M.