We're taking our previous experience and knowledge of the industry, applying our own creativity, and pairing it with high technology. The graphics of the game will be very contemporary, but at the same time gothic. I could write pages about where others went wrong, but what I'd like to say is that we're going to use our experience and ask the players out there what they feel are the best ways to do things in order to create the game. The world will be a truly interactive world. NPCs will be taking carts from city to city to transport goods, and might be attacked and killed by an orc raiding party in the process.
Players can build, and destroy things, as well as interact directly with monsters and NPCs.
The world is currently slated to be 2,500 square miles. Yes, we will have to run shards since we are anticipating a huge player base. Yes, and it will be posted as we get closer to release. Actually, this is a big question - best thing to do is check out the next version of the FAQ that is going to be released. It will detail these questions much better.