D&D 5E What D&D Product Can Be Seen In The Crystals?

WotC has posted an image of a pile of crystals through which distorted glimpses of what looks like a product can be seen. In the comments below, folks have been flipping, enhancing, and generally squinting at the image behind the crystals, and while it's hard to make out, guesses include 'Journey Through the Radiant Ocean' (although I personally think that first letter looks more like an X or K than a J). 'Citadel' is also a popular guess for that last word--'Journey(s) to/from the Radiant Citadel'? Take a look and see what you think (or check the comments for flipped and enhanced versions).

In Spelljammer lore, the phlogiston--the space between the crystal spheres in which the prime material worlds can be found--is also known as the 'Rainbow Ocean'. And crystal seem on-brand for crystals spheres.

Below the text, the image appears to be of some kind of marketplace. Above it, WotC wrote "Through the depths of the Ethereal Plane is a beacon of possibility and adventure... "

There was apparently a press event today, pending some kind of product announcement on Tuesday.

D&D 5E - Announcement Next Week--What Hints For Upcoming D&D Books?

WotC uses Unearthed Arcana to playtest D&D material which often ends up in a later hardcover book. Mages of Strixhaven was in Unearthed Arcana in June 2021, and Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos was published in December 2021. Draconic Options was in Unearthed Arcana in April 2021, and Fizban's...

www.enworld.org

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's possible, but I think it's a bit of a stretch.

Why?

There is no point in setting a puzzle unless it is solvable.

 

[Parmandur]

It's possible, but I think it's a bit of a stretch.

It is...but Ajit George, who worked on this book, said someone on here figured the book out, and @Paul Farquhar model seems the most likely candidate for having figured it out.

 

[Parmandur]

Why?

There are a couple of Algebraic leaps involved...but very reasonable ones, that explain other content WotC put out that seemed random.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

There are a couple of Algebraic leaps involved...but very reasonable ones, that explain other content WotC put out that seemed random.

That's the similarity to doing a crossword. You might be able to come up with several answers to a single clue, the only way to know if you are right is to write your answer in and see how it fits with the other clues.

To be honest, my better half is a crime fiction enthusiast (she studied it at Uni). You read enough fictional detectives and you start to turn into one.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

It is...but Ajit George, who worked on this book, said someone on here figured the book out, and @Paul Farquhar model seems the most likely candidate for having figured it out.

See, that's the thing... there are a load of different theories on this thread, so there's no "most likely" option thrown out here.

I think my comment had it figured out...

 

[Guest 7034872]

Why?

There is no point in setting a puzzle unless it is solvable.

Oh, yes, there is. The purpose of that "puzzle" is to drive as many eyeballs as possible, not to admit of some clever solution. And it's working, isn't it? They are getting lots of eyeballs from that thing.

 

[Parmandur]

See, that's the thing... there are a load of different theories on this thread, so there's no "most likely" option thrown out here.

I think my comment had it figured out...

Well, we'll see soon! Yours seemed reasonable as well, but the Saridor model seemed to account for the nostt evidence.

 

[Parmandur]

Oh, yes, there is. The purpose of that "puzzle" is to drive as many eyeballs as possible, not to admit of some clever solution. And it's working, isn't it? They are getting lots of eyeballs from that thing.

That's why they play their hand so mysteriously.

25 years ago, they had to work hard just to broadcast informstion: now they have to work to make information interesting in an ocean of data.

 

[Guest 7034872]

That's why they play their hand so mysteriously.

25 years ago, they had to work hard just to broadcast informstion: now they have to work to make information interesting in an ocean of data.

Absolutely. In terms of simple marketing, this approach is working beautifully.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Well, we'll see soon! Yours seemed reasonable as well, but the Saridor model seemed to account for the nostt evidence.

What was @Paul Farquhar full theory? It's gotten buried in this thread.