Population density in your setting?

[Gez]

So, it was recently proven by facts that population density is a fundamental part of any setting. So, I'm enquiring for population density in yours.

 

[Henry]

Let me state beforehand that I'm one for whom it makes little difference.

In my homebrews? I don't know. It fluctuates depending on the region and the needs of my game.

In my FR Campaign on hiatus? It's whatever the FRCS says it is. My DM style is to focus majority of time and attention on small details relating to the things my characters will directly experience, rather than being completely comprehensive; my players will want to know more about the name of the bartenders and their families, or what's in the bar's basement, rather than concise population figures.

And on the record, this isn't a call to bash anyone who DOES keep such figures; it's MY experience.

 

[Belen]

I follow medieval demographics made easy. I read it a few years ago and loved it. It made a huge difference in my game and how I approached it. Personally, I feel that it made things more believeable and I was really able to detail non-populated areas better and come up with more solid adventures.

Of course, my current campaign is going back to the bronze age, so who know what will happen next.

 

[Driddle]

I'm torn between the first and second options. Because any standard fantasy RPG world must be incredibly overcrowded, what with all the sentients constantly fighting tooth-and-nail over every 10-foot section of dark dungeon hall.

On the other hand, as long as they don't bother me ... who cares?

 

[jerichothebard]

My population density is whatever I happen to need at the time. There are some big cities, some wastelands, some sparsely populated farmlands. Whatever the plot needs. If I need there to be an undiscovered cave, then, by golly, no one happens to live there. Or maybe the local shepard tells a story about hearing some weird wind howling up in the hills by the watering hole.

In short, I don't sweat it that much.

 

[Driddle]

Quick, without researching the information (and without actually posting the answers here, because we don't really care either)...

* What's the population density of YOUR home city?
* What's the population density of any single 'major' city on the other side of the world from where you live?
* How often to you actually think about the vast number of people directly near you (or not) as you drive to work each morning to earn your weekly owlbear-slayer salary?
* Do those numbers make your life any more or less "real" to you?

 

[Hand of Evil]

I am of the group that like wide open ranges, population centered in small areas, and the most effective population control being monsters eatting X number of people.

2/square mile because 3 out of 5 people are food.

Oh, underdark is not in total!

 

[fredramsey]

Definitive

Out-bloody-standing, Driddle! I think this sums it up nicely!

Quick, without researching the information (and without actually posting the answers here, because we don't really care either)...

* What's the population density of YOUR home city?
* What's the population density of any single 'major' city on the other side of the world from where you live?
* How often to you actually think about the vast number of people directly near you (or not) as you drive to work each morning to earn your weekly owlbear-slayer salary?
* Do those numbers make your life any more or less "real" to you?

 

[Gez]

Oh, underdark is not in total!

True. I should have said cubic miles instead of square miles.

 

[DragonLancer]

I don't think it really matters, providing how you have it one day is consistant if they come back a few weeks later.