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ShortQuests -- Pocket Sized Adventures! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed for 1-2 game sessions.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Airwolf" data-source="post: 524644" data-attributes="member: 2905">I think pictures have their place. When I have to describe a monster I find it helpful if the reference material has a picture of the creature.  I am always spinning the MM around so the players can see what they are facing.  I love looking through the MM just to find something they haven't faced yet.As for reading books while we play, it rarely, if ever, happens.  My wife, a bard, usually is doing cross-stitch.  When we get into a town she perks up and pulls out her recorder and starts playing, which can annoy the others but its funny anyway.  We also play on Sunday afternoon, so the TV is usually on with football.  The players will pay pretty good attention but we will stop now and then if something interesting is going on in the football game.  Of course, that doesn't really have to do with pictures.  There are plenty of pictures in the PH and DMG that I barely even look at.  There are also many that are useful.  The pictures of the weapons and armor are helpful (my wife was a newbie so they came in really handy).  Another one I can think of, off the top of my head, is the one that shows the different sizes of people / creatures.  I can’t think of a picture in DMG that I have used but there may have been some.  I don’t look for pictures of towns, mountains, forests, etc. to help in the ambiance.  Our group knows what these look like and don’t need a picture.  If I played with a group that was always getting distracted just listening to the narration then I might consider visual aids.  All in all, pictures have their place, like anything else they can be over used to the point of distraction just as well as they can be under used to the same end.  If your players like looking at vampire cheesecake at the gaming table I would say it’s time for a new rule, no open books unless directed by the DM.  I think that is a bit harsh but it might work for your group.  Good Luck!</blockquote>

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