Can we have a larger city?
Like taking up an entire reasonably sized island?
It would make a great trading hub, great expanse on some story lines like Ysolda's.
It wouldn't be a hold, but it wouldn't be ruled by a hold, kind've independent from Skyrim but involved with skyrim.
It'dbe a great place for a lotttttta quests and internal politics and clashing houses, etc. etc. etc.
Like solitude x 3
I don't see why not, if there's a reason why not, please, do tell.

In future TES games, maybe. Not in Skyrim though.

Fair enough
I just think localized trading and more npcs to interact with one another would expand everything more then make it smaller.
I'm not suggesting get rid of small towns, or otehr cities, too.
They're needed.
But a homebase city that's really big would be great.

I agree that the towns need to be filled with more NPCs and buidlings. Whiterun is supposed to be a trading HUd of Skyrim, yet it always feels so desolate when I go there. The buildings are too few and too widely spread, and places like Dawnstar or Morthal feel more populated.

i agree...you cant call a collection of 5 buildings a "city" or even a "town"...

exactly,
I get that it's straining to have so many characters interact with one another and keep the same level of quality but it shouldn't deter you from keeping the city alive. I mean whiterun is a trading hub, as mentioned before, but it's basically a farmers market with two blacksmith and a general good's store. There may be a question of neccessity for a town to need a certain amount of people, but I don't think we need the minimum or just above it. I think going towards the maximum would be a much better idea story-wise, content-wise, mechanics wise, etc.
They don't need to be in the market,
they could be politicians, rival houses, rival inns, assassins, thieves, bards, mercs, business men, or... plantation owners, just a nice hub filled with people and filled with busyness.

I've always wanted to be able to reign over a small Island.

We all do.

seems arguementless possible bethesda employee monitoring the forums..
maybe you should push this one on up to happen...
yeah...