Should I read the manual or just get started with the game?

I definitely agree with Waltorious. The manual also is really good in terms of giving a lot of back story and history/character to the game world, which I really enjoy about it.

Read the manual to get the basics of the game. If its your first play through try pure fighter or a pure mage. Both get pretty powerful with out having to know alot about the game, high charisma diplomats are pretty easy too but your main character kind of sucks.

Don't play as someone ugly unless you know what your doing. Avoid backgrounds that give items, skill boosts or magic/tech aptitude.

Tech anything can be pretty brutal for a first play through and thieves can be tricky too.

This game is great because you can make so many different characters and almost any character can get through the game if you know whats going on but for the first play through try to stay focused on either fighter or mage and you should be fine.