I've started work on developing a large area of the U.S. as the playground for a lot of my nWoD games going forward and I'd like to discuss some things with you guys - it may not seem like it with my problems with RAGE but this is one of the few places I can really say whats on my mind and not be instantly banned and I love it for that.

Now on to business:

I'm tired of Vampires ruling the world.  Mages are the true rulers of the world, though the undead have much power in the world.  In this particular place, a strip of states in the center of the U.S. they have long held great power, and will continue to do so for the forseeable future.  Other supernaturals know to give the place a wide berth, for to cross a wizard is extremely bad luck.

No more True Blood witches.  True Awakened Magic is afoot.

I want to develop a web of vibrant politics, but I'm really having trouble with the "Credibility Wall".  

How many mages are realistic?  How many Cabals per Awakened Region?

I'm starting with 5 cabals of 3-7 members each.  I'll probably have 1 larger player cabal or perhaps 2 smaller ones in the same game, so I have to account for all those too.

It's true that mages congregate to this place, but even so - how many mages would you buy were hanging out in Dallas?  In Tulsa?  In the Springfield/Joplin area?

Those places are all above 110,000 people counting rural districts.  I've broken 4 states into three broad "regions" apiece.

This is going to be a "living world" for the club, and will go on through several iterations of nWoD (as mortals doing some such or another), Mages and Werewolves.  I need to get a rhythm going that I can carry on through several different campaigns with different cabals/supernaturals in different areas, doing different things and yet interacting and contributing to the regional "map".  

As for Vampires - they are bad guys.

Boston Unveiled lists 11 cabals for Boston area. 5 members on average. Not counting apostates and Seers.