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

[Selas]

Except Waterdeep is modeled after Europe more. And lacks the basics that allowed those non European cities to hit those sizes.

Even magic only goes so far. It's not producing the food eg plant growth but transporting it.

FR doesn't have a lightning rail network, magical steamship en masse, magical food replicator as standard tech, magical trucks imperial capital, or fertile floodplain with year round growing season (or two crops high calorie crop like rice).

Because magic only goes so far.

5E maps are roughly same size as 3.5 but if the 2 million figure is accurate it's increased in size by a factor of 15-20.

Dessarin valley and area around Waterdeep is plausible enough at 2 million.

The 3E FR Campaign guide puts Waterdeep at 132k within the city walls and 1.348M in the surrounding areas outside the walls (pp. 178-180). It's not farfetched that the city has grown since then. The city is also home to the largest Spelljammer port in Faerun, so that also plays a role in the booming population

 

[Zardnaar]

The 3E FR Campaign guide puts Waterdeep at 132k within the city walls and 1.348M in the surrounding areas outside the walls (pp. 178-180). It's not farfetched that the city has grown since then. The city is also home to the largest Spelljammer port in Faerun, so that also plays a role in the booming population

Bigger yes I'm fine with that.

132k to 2 million is absurd.

If it's gone from 1.5 to 2 million that's fine assuming it's the area.

 

[Yaarel]

Bigger yes I'm fine with that.

132k to 2 million is absurd.

If it is necessary to explain, perhaps the city borders were redefined, expanding to annex the surrounding towns to become neighborhoods of the city proper.

 

[Zardnaar]

If it is necessary to explain, perhaps the city borders were redefined, expanding to annex the surrounding towns to become neighborhoods of the city proper.

Something like that's fine.

Even 500 years ago good farmland yeah 2 million no problem. France had 18-20 million.

Dessarin is noted for its output.

 

[Yaarel]

London reached a population of 2,000,000 in the mid-19th century...

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

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Basically Waterdeep is Fantasy Chicago.

Close, Fantasy Toronto Ed Greenwoods Canadian and I believe born in the GTA.

But if it makes you feel any better Toronto often plays Chicago on TV when it's not playing New York or Boston.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

That's crazy big. Idaho only has 2 million people. And ancient Rome was never that big. I get that the realms is more 19th century than it is medieval, but that's just huge.

The rural population in the Sword Coast most be massive to feed all the cities.

Ancient Rome never had raised dead and cure disease spells and druids to boost food production.

 

[Zardnaar]

Ancient Rome never had raised dead and cure disease spells and druids to boost food production.

And how do you transport the extra food from the Druids?

A bit extra sure but they're still reliant on renaissance-era logistics for the most part.

And there's not enough magic to go around for most of the population. Even in FR.

 

[Yaarel]

And how do you transport the extra food from the Druids?

I assume mass transportation is via Teleportation Circle.

A bit extra sure but they're still reliant on renaissance-era logistics for the most part.

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.

And there's not enough magic to go around for most of the population. Even in FR.

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

 

[Laurefindel]

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…