Khorvaire's Points of Light - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Khorvaire's Points of Light

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
octaviusiii
Mar 16, 2008 4:05:01 So, I was futzing with the numbers on population density that I have and I realized something rather odd. Assuming an average population density of around 32 people per square mile for the inhabited parts of the continent (which was determined by a combination of guesswork on individual nations and making an average of those densities weighted by nation's area), Khorvaire only has about 5.2% (!) of its land inhabited.

I'm assuming that the more civilized areas have higher density in the inhabited regions - 75 per square mile in Thrane and Breland, for example - while the less civilized areas have lower density. This means that only 2.7% of Breland's land regularly sees a plow or a rancher; Thrane is 10.2%.

What might live in those areas? Why might Khorvaire only be 5.2% inhabited? I smell settlement adventure hooks...
#2
skrap-san
Mar 16, 2008 15:11:29 And for the longest time I thought of Khorvaire as a smal continent... untill i got the map with the DM screen that is.
#3
dsivis
Mar 17, 2008 2:26:45 Sure. The population is clustered around Scion's Sound, Lake Brey, Lake Galifar, the South Coast and miscellaneous rivers and major trade routes.
#4
octaviusiii
Mar 17, 2008 3:12:30
Sure. The population is clustered around Scion's Sound, Lake Brey, Lake Galifar, the South Coast and miscellaneous rivers and major trade routes.

Hmm... well, I'll have to wait until I can figure out how to take apart the PDF map of Khorvaire, stick it into ArcGIS, and run some population gravity functions on the thing to figure out how closely the population clings to trade routes and the like. But in the mean time, what lies in the heartland? Why are the trade routes not better used? More importantly, why aren't there constant drives for people to settle the interior?
#5
dsivis
Mar 22, 2008 12:48:02 Probably a mix of monsters and rough terrain. That and it was likely largely depopulated/evacuated during the war.
#6
yadot
Mar 22, 2008 13:22:39 IIRC the scale of the maps was improperly increased by a factor of 10 from what the population figures were based on. So it really should be 52% of Khorvaire that's inhabited.
#7
octaviusiii
Mar 22, 2008 21:18:57
IIRC the scale of the maps was improperly increased by a factor of 10 from what the population figures were based on. So it really should be 52% of Khorvaire that's inhabited.

True, I do remember reading that, but that would still mean Breland would be only 27% inhabited, which is not a lot.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 octaviusiii Mar 16, 2008 4:05:01	So, I was futzing with the numbers on population density that I have and I realized something rather odd. Assuming an average population density of around 32 people per square mile for the inhabited parts of the continent (which was determined by a combination of guesswork on individual nations and making an average of those densities weighted by nation's area), Khorvaire only has about 5.2% (!) of its land inhabited. I'm assuming that the more civilized areas have higher density in the inhabited regions - 75 per square mile in Thrane and Breland, for example - while the less civilized areas have lower density. This means that only 2.7% of Breland's land regularly sees a plow or a rancher; Thrane is 10.2%. What might live in those areas? Why might Khorvaire only be 5.2% inhabited? I smell settlement adventure hooks...
#2 skrap-san Mar 16, 2008 15:11:29	And for the longest time I thought of Khorvaire as a smal continent... untill i got the map with the DM screen that is.
#3 dsivis Mar 17, 2008 2:26:45	Sure. The population is clustered around Scion's Sound, Lake Brey, Lake Galifar, the South Coast and miscellaneous rivers and major trade routes.
#4 octaviusiii Mar 17, 2008 3:12:30	Sure. The population is clustered around Scion's Sound, Lake Brey, Lake Galifar, the South Coast and miscellaneous rivers and major trade routes. Hmm... well, I'll have to wait until I can figure out how to take apart the PDF map of Khorvaire, stick it into ArcGIS, and run some population gravity functions on the thing to figure out how closely the population clings to trade routes and the like. But in the mean time, what lies in the heartland? Why are the trade routes not better used? More importantly, why aren't there constant drives for people to settle the interior?
#5 dsivis Mar 22, 2008 12:48:02	Probably a mix of monsters and rough terrain. That and it was likely largely depopulated/evacuated during the war.
#6 yadot Mar 22, 2008 13:22:39	IIRC the scale of the maps was improperly increased by a factor of 10 from what the population figures were based on. So it really should be 52% of Khorvaire that's inhabited.
#7 octaviusiii Mar 22, 2008 21:18:57	IIRC the scale of the maps was improperly increased by a factor of 10 from what the population figures were based on. So it really should be 52% of Khorvaire that's inhabited. True, I do remember reading that, but that would still mean Breland would be only 27% inhabited, which is not a lot.