[LordCalvert]

One of the reasons why I envisioned such a big map was that I wanted to give each local group their own province. That may not be practical. There was also the need to have low-value territory in areas where there are few or no groups (such as the Yukon/NWT and other scattered "unclaimed" areas in Canada, the US and possibly Mexico).

Let me give you an example with my own kingdom
Æthelmearc (WNY/WPA/WV) has 27 local groups, not counting sub-groups:
Seven baronies (the largest groups and would be the high-income provinces): Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Scranton, Johnstown and Charleston
Twenty shires (smaller groups):
West Virginia: Huntington, Morgantown, Harper's Ferry.
Pennsylvania: Washington, Indiana, Sharon, Butler, Meadville, Erie, Williamsport, Clarion, State College.
New York: Jamestown, Olean, Wellsville, Ithaca, Utica, Cortland, Binghamton, Watertown.

And we're considered to be a medium-sized kingdom. The East Kingdom (New England, Québec, the Maritimes, ENY, EPA, NJ, DE) is one of the larger ones. They have seventeen barony-sized groups and 27 shire-sized groups (not including the sub-groups). The Midrealm (OH, MI, KY, IN, IL) has even more (19 baronies, 36 shires). Getting in every group requires a large map but the province count can't be so high that it becomes unplayable. Compromise has to happen somewhere.