We've talked about what just about everything else should be like, but what should the game manual be like? What should it include, exclude, look like, etc.

Personally, I would like the basic things you need to know to play the game. An accurate accounting of race and class abilities, how various options work, etc. Ideally, I should be able to read the manual and create my party while installing the game, and have a fairly complete idea of what they can do. The fact that nothing about the cleric, monk, and paladin orders was in the IWD2 booklet annoyed me.

How detailed should spell, item, weapons, armor, etc lists be? Should the manual explain everything to the mechanics of the game or leave some secrets for you to find?

I would say anything that's standard should be explained; common spells, weapons, etc. It simply makes the game more user-friendly.

It damn well better come in the Collector's Edition. Nothing pissed me off more than to buy a freaking $70 dollar game, and get no manual.

I think it should contain the basics for playing the game. It should not include magical items found, NPCs, etc... Just the D&D rules and how they apply would make the game perfect. Also make sure the manual is a hard copy.

Perhaps, unlike the BG 2 one, explain properly how stats and feats work in every situation - not leave us guessing if there's a relation between 2 obscure-but-maybe-connected aspects. I still wonder if uber-high Int or Wis in BG II give you the resistances you get in the PnP books.

Stats for everything need to be complete. It'd better be so in the game, too. I would like to see class skills in class descriptions, on a bit of an off-topic note. A good manual is good but having to reach for the manual while you're playing is bad.