I've ordered the guide, but I'm going to ban myself from looking at it for at least the first few months of trying the game.

I'll only use it once I've completed the game at least once on my own.....

Keep in mind that there are three versions of the guide. All three were available on both official store and Amazon.

- Standard paperback edition
- Hardcover Collector's Edition with map and lithos
- Ultimate Bundle with extra goodies - that's the crazy overpriced one


Oh man, what is that?!

Thanks so much for posting about this. I went ahead and bought it. The featured selections music is worth it to me as well. I wish that a soundtrack on CD had been included in the collector's edition, as so many games do. And this HARDCOVER book? It should have been included with the Fallout Anthology! There was no way I could take a chance to miss this book.

I found the guide is better for end game, exploring blind is what make those special moment that fallout and skyrim always had. I'll use guide later on. But first couple months no thanks.

Interesting! Me wants the history book too. Somebody with Twitter please ask Pete Hines if this franchise history book is exclusive to the Amazon bundle.

Pete Hines on Twitter says:

"that's a pre-order book they're doing in some places in Europe"

https://twitter.com/DCDeacon/status/657221683779121152

That g------ ebony shortsword! That b------ g------- ebony shortsword!!!! Arrgghhh!!!!!

Thank you for this clarification, in this case it's time for me to pre-order my second copy of the game Like you said, I cannot miss this one.

This [censored]in guy gets it.

I used to buy the guide for all Beth's games; I guess New Vegas was the first I didn't buy. I still love the maps and stuff but the internet's sort of killed the practical need for a printed guide. Even the cheap one's half a week's groceries; I can't afford the luxury.

I bought the collectors edition in a bundle that included the season pass. It worked out cheaper to buy them both that way than separately.

I often feel the first version pretty soon get outdated as they patch the game. For NV I couldn't find any later versions than the one published at release day. I will consider buying for F4 if they re-publish with info for the DLC's.

Not to buy.
If and when i decide to basically cheat, I will compile my own survival guide, using online materials, which I will write/draw out and put into a manilla folder labeled "Battle Plans". Much more satisfying.

I won't. I like to play the first go around guide free. Makes it more interesting to screw up since after a few characters I'll have enough of an idea of what to do or not do. After awhile I'll just use the fallout wiki to find things I may have missed or try out.

Well I got the big hardback Skyrim guide the day the game was released. I think I've looked at it two or three times, mostly just to see the pictures. Wasn't useful for anything else. That being the case I'm saving my money this time around and just getting the game.

Nope, to expensive. Plus, http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout_Wiki is for free. Same site I used for the previous 2 games. As well as http://uesp.net/wiki/Main_Page for TES games.

But if your a collector or got bad internet collection, I get it. As of now, the ultimate guide on the Beth store is sold out. Amazon still has it.

Always buy game guides especially the collector editions

I can't resist buying the guide (regular version) for Bethesda games. Typically the only part I actually read is the character creation section.

Guides make the game boring, I have so much more fun when I'm looking for something for hours, and finaly find it without help. it's a real rush!!
?

I don't normally buy the guides either, but I decided to splurge for Fallout 4. I don't want to give myself spoilers, but with how in depth this game will be. I just wanted to be able to read about the perks tree, and what each one does. plus info on the crafting and such. I don't want to know where any loot is. But I just want more of a read up on the in's and out's of perks/crafting/settlements. Its going to be a couple weeks or more before everything's up online, since this will be a massive game.

I will be buying the hardcover from amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0744016304?tag=randohouseinc9809-20

I don't play a lot of games - Bethesda's and a pretty small handful of other franchises I like - so when I play a game every year or every two years, depending on the release schedules, I like to collect most major items that are released with it, including strategy guides.

I generally never use the strategy guide on the first playthrough. On the second and subsequent playthroughs, I might use it to look up various information, including looking up choices before I make them. Even though the internet tends to catch up on having all the relevant information available by the time I get to my second playthrough, I still prefer a physical book to a lot of the sites out there. I tend to really dislike Wikias, for various reasons.

I will be using the strategy guide for two things

1. To help mod weapons

2. To build my house along with defensive structures.

I will eventually go through the entire guide after my first play through. Just to look at the art and what ever else this guide includes.