Population Density

[klofft]

In developing my homebrew, I'm having issues with population density. I've looked at examples in GH, FR, and Eberron, and I think having actual populations can be helpful. For instance, if my continent has 10,000,000 people on it, it's much easier to justify the evil cult of an obscure god having even, say, 20 members. A big population means more oddities can be hiding in the corners (of the cities and the wilderness).

However, I can't draw actual numbers from those other settings because of my continent. Despite the fact that I thought it was huge when I prepared it (and it's a fairly "kitchen sink setting," to boot), it turns out that it's far smaller than these other worlds (it's size is about 1.5 times the size of Europe).

Any tools/guidelines for determining population and pop. density based on area?
Thanks!

C

 

[jgbrowning]

Any tools/guidelines for determining population and pop. density based on area?
Thanks!

Medieval population varied from roughly 35 people per square mile (think Scotland) to roughly 140+ people per square mile (think rural France). That's probably enough to get you going on a rough estimate.

 

[Avarice]

Medieval population varied from roughly 35 people per square mile (think Scotland) to roughly 140+ people per square mile (think rural France). That's probably enough to get you going on a rough estimate.

Quite true, though real world medieval demographics don't take into account the numerous high-end monstrous predators and/or humanoid hordes that you find in your typical fantasy world. It would be perfectly reasonable for large chunks of otherwise fertile territory to be virtually uninhabited by civilized beings, and so your continent's overall population will be much less than it would be in the real world.

 

[Edgewood]

Try this link below.

http://www.rpglibrary.org/utils/meddemog/

It calculates your population by the amount of arable land you have and you can choose the density of people per sq mile. It's a great resource.

 

[Celebrim]

Most world builders vastly underestimate the population of settled regions.

 

[William drake]

In developing my homebrew, I'm having issues with population density. I've looked at examples in GH, FR, and Eberron, and I think having actual populations can be helpful. For instance, if my continent has 10,000,000 people on it, it's much easier to justify the evil cult of an obscure god having even, say, 20 members. A big population means more oddities can be hiding in the corners (of the cities and the wilderness).

However, I can't draw actual numbers from those other settings because of my continent. Despite the fact that I thought it was huge when I prepared it (and it's a fairly "kitchen sink setting," to boot), it turns out that it's far smaller than these other worlds (it's size is about 1.5 times the size of Europe).

Any tools/guidelines for determining population and pop. density based on area?
Thanks!

C

Well, for pop number, that's up to you, however I used the numbers based on heros or those of high level as adding zero to the end of it

ex: a first level person is 1 in 10
a second level person is 1 in 100
then 1000, 10000, 100000, 10000000 and so on. (this is for active heros...if you have old heros, or those who dont actively adventure...then their may be afew more.)

 

[Roman]

Well, for pop number, that's up to you, however I used the numbers based on heros or those of high level as adding zero to the end of it

ex: a first level person is 1 in 10
a second level person is 1 in 100
then 1000, 10000, 100000, 10000000 and so on. (this is for active heros...if you have old heros, or those who dont actively adventure...then their may be afew more.)

I think your progression is a bit too punishing. Under your rules a 6th level character would be a 1 in a million individual and a 12th level character would be 1 in a billion individual. Since it is unlikely that there are a billion people in a medieval-based setting (well, you can make any setting you like, but I think the majority would not reach that kind of population), 12th level characters and above would not exist at all. Of course, depeding on your setting, that may be just what you want to accomplish.

 

[RedFox]

Would this be helpful to you?

 

[S'mon]

High medieval France AIR was 115/square mile, 25 million people, that's about as high as you'll get in a western medieval setting. Medieval Germany ca 75/square mile.
The island of Britain by contrast had much more wilderness, total around 40/square mile, up to 4 million people, lower after the Black Death. That includes lots of Scotland at around 10/square mile, though.

As a guide I use:

Lush river delta farmland - 200/square mile
Rich farmland - 100/square mile
Average farming country with wasteland - 50/square mile
Borderland - 10/square mile
Wilderness - ca 1-5/square mile

 

[S'mon]

Most D&D settings seem based on America circa 1750, and have tiny populations listed for the land area. 1983 World of Greyhawk is among the worst since it postulates a basically feudal-medieval setting but with populations far far too low for this model.