I ran a search and could not find an exact match for this so...

One of the things I like about a decent RPG is the depth and detail of the infomation a manual.
I love having detailed spell and skill lists, their general effects in game, some small lore details.

I realise with Game guides to sell you can't have everything about the game in a manual these days.
That and the Wiki makes it quite redundant as well.

I still find a booklet sized companion piece listing general info on races, stat uses, skills, spells and perks.
Very useful to have while playing, and can help extend game life as you can refer to it when elsewhere and think of new things to try.

So what about everyone else, what's your opinion on the humble but useful manual.

It's going to be the same as the Morrowind and Oblivion manuals. Enough to get you started in the game world, and a list of default keybinds.

Same old booklet as before

Controls

Races

Stats

Skills

Basic Concepts

I just want my manual to be in colour!

I want cool drawings that don't appear in game anywhere. Not quite like concept art, but like the stuff in the Redguard hintbook or the old Warcraft manuals. The real 90's style stuff.

I liked both manuals, though tbh Morrowinds seemed better, despite having roughly the same info.

However many things have changed in Skyrim already.
Before spell effects were described, now with 87 or so spells how many are they going to consider putting in writting.
Dragon shout effects most likely will be kept secret, still you have perks.

For a completely new system a general snap shot to get started may not be enough.
NV went with leaving alot of info out, or at best a very small one - two line sentence.

I love huge manuals!

To read in bed at night when Im too tired after playing Skyrim for 48 hours.

Its a shame that most games these days dont pay any attention to their manual. You usually get two pages, one of them controls.

Id love it if Skyrim's manual was large, detailed and full of pictures and background info.

I never read manuals, you pretty much learn everything basic and in-game control-wise. Otherwise I'd go online and see more information.

But if I ever were to read a manual, I'd like just basic information like:
> controls
> basic weapon/skills/armour/item list
> basic game mechanic and design details (e.g. quest info, dragon info).

You just made me realise something:
Gaming technology has been going forward at the exact same pace that manuals lost colour printing.
weird