D&D (2024) Sword Coast population data from 2024 D&D Pocket Expert

[Paul Farquhar]

London didn't hit a million until 19th century iirc (1800 apparently).

Sure, and 2 million around 50 years later, and that's the idea - the Sword Coast is "early modern", not medieval. Check out the depiction in Baldur's Gate 3. Printing presses with movable type, industrialisation, railroads, submarines. And Waterdeep is more advanced than Baldur's Gate.

Terry Pratchett was doing the same thing with Ankh-Morpork when he died, another city state with a population in the millions.

 

[Zardnaar]

Sure, and 2 million around 50 years later, and that's the idea - the Sword Coast is "early modern", not medieval. Check out the depiction in Baldur's Gate 3. Printing presses, industrialisation, railroads, submarines. And Waterdeep is more advanced than Baldur's Gate.

Terry Pratchett was doing the same thing with Ankh-Morpork when he died, another city state with a population in the millions.

It's not they can't do it. I've also been using 1600 not medieval. 2 million is plausible if it's the greater area.

It's where are you putting them.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's not they can't do it. I've also been using 1600 not medieval. 2 million is plausible if it's the greater area.

It's where are you putting them.

That's what I'm trying to explain. The population of a city is not measured by the people within the walls, it includes the surrounding towns and villages. That shouldn't need to be stated, it's standard practice. I'm included in the population of London, even though I live in Carshalton, a village 14 miles from the City of London (and in a different county).

 

[Zardnaar]

That's what I'm trying to explain. The population of a city is not measured by the people within the walls, it includes the surrounding towns and villages. That shouldn't need to be stated, it's standard practice. I'm included in the population of London, even though I live in Carshalton, a village 14 miles from the City of London.

WD is less than half the size of Paris in 1600.

Germany area15 million
UK 5 million
France 18-20 million
Sweden 1.3 million
Venice Republic 2 million

 

[Paul Farquhar]

WD is less than half the size of Paris in 1600.

And the City of London is still the same size it was in Roman times. What point are you trying to make?

 

[Zardnaar]

And the City of London is still the same size it was in Roman times. What point are you trying to make?

It's believable based on RL no magic required. If it's the area.

City of London doesn't have 8.9 million. It's a section of London. Londons expanded.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's believable based on RL no magic required. If it's the area.

City of London doesn't have 8.9 million. It's a section of London. Londons expanded.

The population of London has always included people who did not live within the city itself, and the population of Waterdeep has always included people whose houses where not shown on the game map. That's the way city populations are measured.

 

[Zardnaar]

The population of London has always included people who did not live within the city itself, and the population of Waterdeep has always included people whose houses where not shown on the game map. That's the way city populations are measured.

They expressly say that though. Waterdeeps authority is more like 10000 square miles give or take maybe more.

BG has gone from a big Lubeck to over double. They've at least got an in game story for it.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

They expressly say that though.

Expressly says everyone who lives in Waterdeep has their house shown on the game map? Where are you getting that from?

The population of a city includes it's satellite towns and villages. So, for example, the population of Skullport is included in the population of Waterdeep.

 

[Zardnaar]

Expressly says everyone who lives in Waterdeep has their house shown on the game map? Where are you getting that from?

The population of a city includes it's satellite towns and villages. So, for example, the population of Skullport is included in the population of Waterdeep.

3E FRCS and City of Splendors. I own both.

Even at those numbers it's density is roughly Singapore. Goes into the vaguely plausible don't think about it to hard category.

They keep inflating the numbers say from 2E.