[Endoperez]

If nothing else, the manual is really great when you want to try a new nation
(hmm, MA Ulm... page 136... Order and Production, Nature and Death magics, build lots of arbalests, Master Smiths and castles)
or when you want to refine your strategy
(so, what should these Master Smiths cast in battle, pg 242 onward... Alteration has nice buffs. Oh, Evoc levels 4-7 have nice damage spells, and Earth/Astral and Earth/Air spells my Smiths can get randoms in. More Alteration goodness... wow, Weapons of Sharpness! I'll focus on Alteration and Evocation for combat spells, and get Construction to level 5 when my troops have trouble dealing damage!).
The lists for summon spells, globals, battle spells and items can all be used this way.