This will make a fine addition to my collection.

The fact that D&D Beyond now can preview content before it is official released now that it is owned by WOTC is awesome! Thank you!

So according to the Court of Whispers section the Harpers from Abeir-Toril visit so I assume there is a way to get here from Faerun. But the Concord Jewels doesn’t say which realms/worlds they connect to? Do we just pick a Jewel? Did I miss a detail? Slightly confused. 

Quote from CaptMizak >>

So according to the Court of Whispers section the Harpers from Abeir-Toril visit so I assume there is a way to get here from Faerun. But the Concord Jewels doesn’t say which realms/worlds they connect to? Do we just pick a Jewel? Did I miss a detail? Slightly confused. 

 There's a reason there are 12 missing Founders!  And there's other ways to get there, since it's just a place on the Ethereal.

"... inspectors investigate nonviolent crimes and use nonlethal methods of detainment. Theft is uncommon in the city, and rehabilitation and restorative justice are preferred methods of addressing wrongs. Highly trained local guards mobilize to handle the rare incidents of violence, and citizens are expected to proactively intervene if needed."

"Every citizen is entitled to a basic income that affords them the necessities of living and dignity in lifestyle. Food, water, and green spaces are equally accessible throughout the city... healing is priced according to one’s means, and the poorest are served without charge. All housing is public, distributed, and administered through the city’s councils."

"...goods are reused or recycled when possible. Similarly, most food is vegetarian and is grown in green spaces throughout the city."

"Taxes are progressive to help reduce the gap between the most affluent and the poorest."

Hip-hip-hurray for more social-justice D&D! 

I get that there are 12 missing (aka insert home brew here). But since they say they frequent the court I’m assuming there is a known connection. That’s what I’m asking about. Maybe we will get more detail when full book comes out. 

I gotta say, after going over the first chapter I was not expecting fantasy Portland

Hmmmm….a socialist utopia.   Sad there is no refunds on Preorders.   Bought it to use with the upcoming Spelljammer, wasn’t expecting socialism.

That aside, I cant find any reference in any material regarding any of the civilizations mentioned.   I’ve been playing since 1985 and I’ve never heard of any of them.

Is there any possibility of these new civilizations being “fleshed out” in the book or are they just pointless names, randomly created, with no background information, racial information or lore?

Seems a bit lame to make it such a big deal; “…the fate of the citadel may depend on it…” and then provide literally no information about them. 

Here’s hoping some lore for all the “civilizations” mentioned is forthcoming. 

Has anyone ever heard of, or have any insight regarding any of the civilizations mentioned?

This looks amazing, so much detail. I love plot devices that you connect different worlds.

Quote from Xamiel >>

Hmmmm….a socialist utopia.   Sad there is no refunds on Preorders.   Bought it to use with the upcoming Spelljammer, wasn’t expecting socialism.

I'm simultaneously surprised and not surprised you didn't see the whole "socialism" aspect coming given the early descriptions of the Radiant Citadel.

Quote from Xamiel >>

That aside, I cant find any reference in any material regarding any of the civilizations mentioned.   I’ve been playing since 1985 and I’ve never heard of any of them.

Is there any possibility of these new civilizations being “fleshed out” in the book or are they just pointless names, randomly created, with no background information, racial information or lore?

 

Are you really upset about getting new lore? This is only the first chapter... I'd say there's a slight possibility they will expand on the main features of the campaign in the rest of the book.

It occurs to me that being a city isolated in the Ethereal there is fantastic opportunity to play a suspenseful disaster style game where the gateways to other worlds stop working properly.

An isolated city, dwindling resources and food. Sure it says in the preview chapter that vegetables are grown in green spaces alongside the buildings, and this is a fantasy so handwaving and all that, but historically its been considered that you need 2 acres of land to provide the quantity and diversity of nutrients needed to sustain a person throughout a year (assuming no lose of soil, water, and lack of any disasters situations such as insect infestation). There is debate that if you use the most sophisticated land saving techniques and grow only the bare minimum nutrient variety you could reduce it to 0.17 acres, but that is still over 7,000 square feet needed to feed 1 person.

I really hope there is more information about the city in the full book, it has far more potential.  The intro chapter is like one of the addon realms in the Ravenloft book, barely more than glorified fanfiction. 

Yeah that opening bit just reads like, "It was founded by some guys, then it was empty. Now it's not empty again and people like hanging out there."

The most interesting part is being built on a giant dead thing, and for the Astra Plane, even that's pretty routine.

I canceled my online order for the Physical Book after reading this socialist dystopian fan fiction.

how is it dystopian?  Do you also hate Star Trek?  What's wrong with using infinite resources to take  care of people?

Quote from JorenB >>

I canceled my online order for the Physical Book after reading this socialist dystopian fan fiction.

 LOL!

”Everyone is taken care of and generally happy”

”That sounds like my hell. Cancelled!!!”

Quote from ScrimshawShank >>

Quote from JorenB >>

I canceled my online order for the Physical Book after reading this socialist dystopian fan fiction.

 I'm really confused about this.

Really? Like, really? You can't stomach ANY "socialist dystopian fan fiction?"

This isn't really the place, but wow. Just wow.

 Salutations Scrimshawshank,

Everyone sees things, likes things, differently.   It’s a game…..there is no wrong answer.    I know folks who don’t like demons, the discussion of demons and et al.  So, they don’t buy things along those lines and they wont have them in their game.     GREAT!!

Youre right, this really isn’t the place to belittle players for their opinions, their likes or dislikes.

If you love it, great.  If not, great.  Talking down to others, not great.

Nice

So excited for this! First chapter is already establishing an nice almost-utopian homebase (which I just know I'll undercut immediately with political strife haha). And I love that the modular approach explicitly makes space for homebrewed civs.