What did Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen do right?

When I say what did they do right, the context is what did they do right to have a successful early access launch for a indie MMORPG?

We've been watching these for awhile and a lot of these type of indie crowdfunded mmorpgs have had tough releases. Often releasing to overly negative or at best mixed reviews. Some closing quite quickly. Now to determine if this game is a true success, like every mmorpg, well have to see what it looks like in a year. But the initial response of the public at large has been surprisingly positive. With it seeing consecutive growth for 3 weeks in a row now. Peaking at about 5,300 so far today. Which again for a crowd funded, niche indie mmorpg? That's pretty crazy.

Compared to the genre at large, and also games that could be viewed as "similar" in terms of target audience; what is Pantheon doing right?

I haven't delved into it too much. But they have 12 classes across 4 roles (DPS, support, healing, tank) and let you play some cool races. Like the typical halfling, elf, dwarf, human, and this fish people race. But they also let you be a quite large ogre.

Personally a mmorpg with more than just trinity roles, unique races that aren't just re-textures of a human model, and lots of classes are big pros in my book. I haven't been had time to really go into it too far yet. But I'm curious what the reason is for the overall success of the launch.

The game clearly has some work to do. So I'm not saying its perfect or anything. More character customization options and from what I hear, endgame is so so. But from a launch performance perspective, its definitely taken me by surprise.