Eberron - a technical question

[Mystery Man]

Perusing my Eberron book in more depth today a question arises.

Putting the economic guidelines in practice as per the instructions using Aundair you have 2 million people with 1.2 million in the lower class, 600,000 in the middle and 200,000 in the upper class. 200,000? Does this make sense. The kingdom is only 400 miles across on a good day.

Sorry if this subject has been brooched before. I'm just now starting to get in the loop.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Eberron economics and demographics are wonky. There's not much to be done about it except to change the numbers if they don't suit your needs.

Just remember that Eberron does not use the NPC generation table given in the DMG. There are more low-level spellcasters available and fewer high level ones. If I remember correctly, a large city will have 32 1st level wizards and one 11th level one. Very different from the FR.

 

[buzz]

The kingdom is only 400 miles across on a good day.

Wait. Are you saying that 400 miles is *small*?

Buzz, one who is in the "divide Eberron by 5" camp.

 

[Mystery Man]

Wait. Are you saying that 400 miles is *small*?

Buzz, one who is in the "divide Eberron by 5" camp.

It's roughly the size of Nebraska, coincidentally.

I don't know if you were serious but I tried that divide by 5 and I think I'll join that camp. Tweaking it a bit further I'll use 5% rather than 10 for the upper class.
Not enough high level NPC's and too many rich people wandering around.

<-----suffering from FR culture shock

 

[Mac Callum]

Putting the economic guidelines in practice as per the instructions using Aundair you have 2 million people with 1.2 million in the lower class, 600,000 in the middle and 200,000 in the upper class. 200,000? Does this make sense. The kingdom is only 400 miles across on a good day.

Not terribly crazy, actually.

1) Eberron's economy & wealth is dependant on magic.
2) Magic is inherantly limited to certain people - especially the Dragonmarked Houses.
3) A disproportionate amount of the wealth will always go to the folks who can use magic.

IRL anyone can buckle down and learn a trade. Not so in the fantasy world. With magical-automation and productivity boosters, it's not inconceivable that there could be quite a bit of wealth to be had, but it being 75% captured by the "magical class."

By, the way, if I'm scaring you with my over-analysis, I would advise against getting degrees in economics and administrative law. My symptoms have gotten much worse since grad school.

Re: Geography divided by five --> I wouldn't. It leaves a lot of open territory within the human kingdoms for lost tribes of goblins, ruins no one has been to for 100 years, etc. It's good for adventuring. You can explain away the Great War by saying it was really about control over the Dragonshards which the old Kings of Galifar had a monopoly on (See also, Dune).

 

[Fiendish Dire Weasel]

It leaves a lot of open territory within the human kingdoms for lost tribes of goblins, ruins no one has been to for 100 years, etc. It's good for adventuring.

This is largley the point I think, a world designed with have a lot of room to find adventure in. A lot of "blank canvas" for players as well, like carving out a small kingdom or founding a new city.

Anyways, I like it. The only concern I would have is travel times, but with the innovations in transportation, getting around isn't all that bad.