.. Further, I don't know that they've demonstrated a lot of forward progress in the last year. These combat/gameplay mechanics that do exist seem like they were there for a while.
True. They demonstrated movement, fighting, combat, aggro, factions, grouping, death, teleportation, climbing, spells, abilities, gear, looting, pretty much the entirety of the adventure loop, back in 2016, in the first amberfaet video.
Since then, they still haven't made all the big decisions, they still haven't finished three continents worth of content, or even 9 starting villages/towns/cities/zones, and now,
are no longer claiming to be fully funded. Content has always been their biggest bottleneck, and it will always be, as long as the team remains small.
Since then, they haven't demonstrated crafting, harvesting, any other game loops, or anything remotely resembling an innovative, progressive, logical, or unique mechanic. Every single one of their tenets or "differences" break down under the mildest of logical assessment or critical thinking. Every single one has been broken down on the official forums dozens of times, with no developer commentary to resolve the gaping logical flaws in their grandiose claims.
Simple things like MDD or FTE still haven't been decided. The list of what hasn't been decided, after 6 years, is longer than what HAS been decided. It's absurd, it's unethical, and it should be criminal, from a product fulfillment perspective. Except, oh wait, that's right, there's no reason for them to deliver ANYTHING because there is no consequence for indefinite delay, so far.
I appreciate what they're trying to do, but they are going to run out of money before they get anywhere near a launch date. Eventually, the account that you draw from to pay wages? It doesn't have money in it any more. That's where they're heading. It is not possible, via any wishful thinking or creative accounting, to continue to pay 15 developers minimum wage for 7+ years based on the one-time-donation crowdfunding of less than 20,000 fans. Five minutes in a spreadsheet makes it painfully apparent.
If they had used any other model of funding, that brought in anything resembling a monthly sub? They could likely continue indefinitely. They didn't, can't, and years away might as well be never, at this point. Best you can hope for now? An early access model of an unfinished game that might see half the remaining dev team try and complete the remaining half of the outstanding continents.
FFS they can't even update the world map or FAQ more than once every 3 years. Ridiculous. They've had their forum upgrades outstanding since 2015. Upgrading a forum. For over 4 years. Let that sink in.