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

[Zardnaar]

I assume mass transportation is via Teleportation Circle.


The reliance on Renaissance Era methods is only relevant for the sake of "flavor".

More pragmatically, magitech can feel like modern technology. The Eberron setting makes magitech function as if the 1900s. In the Forgotten Realms, certain cities function this way.


If 10% of the population are mages, that would be more than enough. Especially if they are high level.

FRs not magitech and 10% are not mages.

Don't get me wrong I'm not opposed to s fantasy city having two million people but they woukd need a very good setup to make it work.

Sharn with a lightning rail, airships, magitech. Population 200k.

More information needed but 5E Waterdeep map very similar in size to 3.5 one.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Yeah, Waterdeep’s population sounds off. It’s not so much that it’s population is 2 million that bugs me, it’s that its population is 16 times the largest metropolis of the (northern) Sword Coast.

A city that has 4,5, or 6 times the population of its commercial rivals is already huge. This looks overdone. I wonder if it isn’t a typo and population is listed at 200,000?

But really, you could fit close to a hundred Neverwinters in Waterdeep? It’s a bit much. Now ill have to go back and compare the scales of maps…

Neverwinter was destroy at one point, and parts of the city are still dangerous AND as others point out it counts alot of country side around it as part of its population, other Swordcoast cities don't really do that to the degree Waterdeep does, their reach around the city is far more limited.

 

[pukunui]

Where the Moonshae Isles correspond Celtic Britain, the coastland east from it is Anglo-Saxon Britain. Either Waterdeep or Baldurs Gate is London.

Baldur's Gate has a very London vibe with the ever-present fog and the class-based hierarchy.

I've seen people liken Waterdeep to Amsterdam.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Baldur's Gate has a very London vibe with the fog and the class-based hierarchy. I've seen people liken Waterdeep to Amsterdam.

You mean Waterdeep is famous for its weed?

 

[Selas]

You mean Waterdeep is famous for its weed?

Well, they do have the Spelljammer port, so it must be the Space Cakes

 

[Zardnaar]

Baldur's Gate has a very London vibe with the fog and the class-based hierarchy. I've seen people liken Waterdeep to Amsterdam.

That or Hanseatic League.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

For the record Waterdeep is not the only city in FR with a population over 1 million, Golden Huzuz in Zakhara and Calimport does too if you include slaves.

 

[Piperken]

Eh, Chinese cities in most dynastic periods with arguably less development, laugh at Waterdeep's cited population; it's not egregious imo.

Some of the figures for the other locales are more surprising, for me.

 

[Yaarel]

Baldur's Gate has a very London vibe with the fog and the class-based hierarchy. I've seen people liken Waterdeep to Amsterdam.

Sounds good to me. Also opposite the southern end of Moonshae feels Londonesque.

I love Waterdeep as Amsterdam!

Neverwinter feels Stockholm to me, especially with its forest outback.

 

[Laurefindel]

Neverwinter was destroy at one point, and parts of the city are still dangerous AND as others point out it counts alot of country side around it as part of its population, other Swordcoast cities don't really do that to the degree Waterdeep does, their reach around the city is far more limited.

I understand but still, according to the maps we had in 3e-4e-5e, Waterdeep is about 5-6 times larger in footprint. Even imagining Neverwinter at half capacity (which sounds about right given the numbers we have), with half the population density of Waterdeep due to lower/roomier buildings, we’re still far from the 2,000,000 population of Waterdeep. I guess if we’re counting the surrounding areas making for 3/4 of the population, we get about there, but that would mean dozens of « small towns » twice the size of Neverwinter without being listed…

I don’t buy it.