Under Storm King's Thunder Chapter 6, 13. Skoraeus Stonebones it says: "Characters who inspect the statue and succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check spot a crystal ball-sized orb embedded in its right eye (see “Treasure”)." It links the word "crystal ball" to the actual crystal ball when it's just using that as a description and isn't the actual item.
If not for their being a magic item called "crystal ball", the phrase "crystal ball-sized orb" would not be of any use to convey the size of the orb.
So the link to the referenced item is useful in that it allows the reader to actually see what "crystal-ball sized" means (while readers of the physical adventure book would have to go look at their DMG to figure out the size, if they hadn't already memorized it).
Under Storm King's Thunder Chapter 6, 13. Skoraeus Stonebones it says: "Characters who inspect the statue and succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check spot a crystal ball-sized orb embedded in its right eye (see “Treasure”)." It links the word "crystal ball" to the actual crystal ball when it's just using that as a description and isn't the actual item.
Weird one.
I checked the physical book, "crystal ball" is indeed in italic, which may mean they were referring to the magical item on purpose.
For now, I'll leave it as is. If an Errata comes in about this, it will be updated.
If not for their being a magic item called "crystal ball", the phrase "crystal ball-sized orb" would not be of any use to convey the size of the orb.
So the link to the referenced item is useful in that it allows the reader to actually see what "crystal-ball sized" means (while readers of the physical adventure book would have to go look at their DMG to figure out the size, if they hadn't already memorized it).
Oh that makes sense sorry about that.