The majority of side quests in The Outer Worlds are simple. Speak with an NPC, follow the objectives, done. Make sure when you are attempting a specific quest, that it is selected in your journal. You can only track one quest at a time, so you want to ensure you’re chasing the correct markers.
The Illustrated Manual Quest Guide
The Illustrated Manual is one of the Companion Quests in The Outer Worlds. Companion Quests are optional quests that players can chose to complete in order to further their relationship with party NPCs or their alliances.
The Illustrated Manual Objectives
Search the Collector’s Domicile
Max says the journal was last possessed by a book collector whose residence was part of a small community directly north of Edgewater. He has marked the location on your map.
Retrieve the Journal
When the collector had to abandon his home, he hid the banned book in a small cave along with some other contraband. Travel to the cave and retrieve it.
You found an entrance to the river cave mentioned in the collector’s note. The book must lie somewhere within.
Return to the Vicar
You’ve found the Journal of M. Bakonu. Return to the Vicar.
The Illustrated Manual Walkthrough
You will obtain this quest by talking to Vicar Max in Edgewater. Ask him about the journal and he will reveal what it is about and the reasons for his interest.
Abandoned Outpost
To find this item, you’ll have to travel north of Edgewater, toward the Abandoned Outpost location. There are Marauder enemies in the area, that you should defeat unless your stealth is quite high.
You can loot the area in addition to picking the item. You’ll get Bit Cartridge, Bolter Pistol, Armor Parts, Mag-Pick, Adreno, Weapon Parts, Bypass Shunt, Shock Cannon, Light Ammo, Heavy Ammo, Pep Pills, Adrena-Time, Energy Cells, Spacer’s Corona, 2-Hour Energy Brew, Tossball Card Tyson Christensen, Mock Apple Juice, Dehydrated Water Tablets, Necklace,
A Lockbox on the top level of the building with your destination has a Revolver, 3 Adreno and Bit Cartridge. A lockbox on the street has a Revolver, Bit Cartridge and Pep Pills.
You can access a terminal belonging to Clement Elridge, that give some insight into the game’s theology. Go through the door by the terminal and examine the nearby hand terminal to read Collector’s Letter. It will reveal the books are stashed away in a cave over by the river. You will gain 2400xp.
Transport Wreckage
The Cave the manual is in is near the Transport Wreckage point of interest on your map and is called River Hideout once you discover it. Watch out for the traps and pick the vault to find the Journal of M. Bakonu. You’ll gain 2400 XP for picking up the the book, and further 4800 XP for returning it, alongside significant Spacer’s Choice reputation.
Vicar Max will be upset that the book is in French, as he had hoped the book would help him solve “The Plan” and is the only reason he got himself assigned to the Emerald Vale. He even reveals he has utter contempt for the locals and asks if he can be of use to your crew in order to get off-planet in search for a translator. He is good at hacking, blunt weapons and guns! Accept his offer to have Vicar Max join you as a Companion. You will not be able to use him until you??