Yes, I screamed at the game when they did this. It can't cost more than 50p to make one it is not too much effort and you would expect the manual in the menu to be more in-depth but no it just is equally as bad. Like no character list or weapon list or vechile list.

No.

I′ve also got the edition with the premium map, for the ps3 though. Maybe that′s why it′s black and white? Oh well I can live with a black and white manual .

Finally, a game that comes with a real manual. It's not cool how most games usually don't have colored, detailed manuals anymore.

Chapters of the manual :

there are a couple of pages with crafting info.
I think all the basics are covered in the manual, controls, HUD, compass, skills, leveling, perks, items, magicka, maps and fast travel, journal, speaking traing and mercs, combat, sneaking pickpocketing, lockpicking, crime and punishment, alchemy, enchanting, smithing, other crafting options like smelting and cooking, housing, horses, books and storage.

it could be more ofc but Im very thankful for every page of info I can get, I need to stare at the box, manual and map for the next three days so yeah...


*EDIT*
the guy above me did a better job lol

Nice that the pictures are in color

indeed
liking the iron mace, armour, and gloves lol

I wouldn't consider 20 pages to be a manual - more like a reference card - but still fine for me, if the contents fit. Although I really miss the classic "book like" manuals of the old days (e.g. those of classic blizzard games)... Starcraft and Warcraft II had such huge amount of story in there with actually rather few pages dedicated to actual gameplay. Always loved reading those after or before gaming depending on time to spend in front of the PC etc.

Preordered on Steam though - I know Amazon would deliver in time, but to be honest I don't really need another DVD box considering the game is bound to steam anyway, plus again there's not much manual content to miss. The map ... only real downside, but I haven't seen any good extra content map yet. I don't need any paper poster and I don't need any "printed on" piece of cloth that's going to disolve (like the Dragon Age CE). Almost bought the Skyrim CE, but just for the DVD and the artbook (not interested in big box nor statue) it seemed to be too expensive. For the money I saved I might grab the prima guide later on or spend it on other games (or DLC).

Anyway, getting offtopic, I really appreciate printed manuals, if they're written well and at least contain some useful content. Not sure on the Skyrim one though, cause it sounds like it would be one I'd consider "meh". Any lore stuff in there except the short excerpt posted above?

Thank God. Most manuals are no more than 5 pages at best and are grey. (Some of the worst ones were only TWO pages...)

This is why I'm not getting any EA games anytime soon. They have gone the way of "in game manuals" in the name of "Going Green". BS!!!! I call it cheap.

Any gaming company that can't spend a little extra and give out a decent manual is cheap, plan and simple.

there are a few more yes, 4 more actually, but nothing like the starcraft lore ofc
I agree that were some godly manuals, but seeing that most games this day come with no or a 2 page warranty manual, bethesda did a good job

calling 20 pages a manual is insulting, but that's what you get today
there is probably not much info in it, with all the pictures
back in the old days manuals had so much more pages...

i guess there is no complete perk list
no 100% correct discription of every skill etc.?

insulting, pff chill dude.
these days a manual with 20 pages IS a manual, I prefer the old blizzard ones, but I'm not going to complain about this one

Drat... I elected to do the Steam download. Ah well.. Ill enjoy the online one. I expected Bethesda to not give us a nice manual... so shame on me.

Anything is better than the BF3 manual...

Uhm...I think you're thinking of a full-length strategy guide. >_>
To be honest, I'm very excited to hear there's a manual at all. I always feel a little dissapoint when I open up the box...and there's just a warranty page, an ad, and the disc.

Wow - a whole 20 pages !! Amazing !!!

Baldur's Gate 2 manual : 266 pages (according to Acrobat)

ONCE AGAIN, yes some manuals of old games were freaking awesome, like neverwinter nights and starcraft.
but games TODAY are seriously failing in even having a 'manual' that's more thn warranty and install info,
so Im glad to see Bethesda is not following that path.

20 pages - 2 pages (EULA) -2 pages (Install info) - 2 pages (Controls/Key) doesn't leave much left for what a manual once was.

I'd say Bethesda is well on their way to eliminating manuals!

now you're just trolling.
there is 1 page controls, 1 page warranty and those pages aren't included in the 20 numbered ones

yes what once was called manual and was free, is now a strategy guide lol

Definitely miss the game manuals from back in the day. Recently found my old Daggerfall manual in a box of old stuff. It's not in color, but it's way bigger and more detailed at 90 pages than the manuals these days, and looks really nice even without color. I wouldn't say a 20 page manual is insulting or anything, but I would definitely appreciate a more detailed manual myself.

The Fallout 3 manual WAS larger, but it was for PC and Xbox, so all the control info had to be repeated. If they've done separate ones then they're able to make them smaller.
Still it does seem they're cutting down.

Glad that the map is indeed quality. Thanks for sharing!