As I always state when this topic is brought up, I, too, think that without christianity we\'d live in a more advanced world (scientifically at least). So Yliakum can feature some scientific advances that don\'t impact the medieval feel, maybe that even emphasize it. Like mathematics, chemistry, architecture, and of course magical science. Maybe if we just leave out advanced manufacturing techniques we\'d end up in a rich world with quite interesting insights but which still hasn\'t had a chance to use this knowledge.
However, even manufacturing needs to be more advanced due to this:
From the settings page
Galeran led the Xacha to Yliakum and there, they settled on the first level and began immediately to use their ancient knowledge to built an iron temple consecrated to Laanx.
The temple of Laanx is the metal building, which means that the Xacha indeed possess advanced manufacturing, architecture and construction skills, which are bound to be used in daily life as well. Therefore there must be some advanced-tech things in Yliakum, most will probably be found in the agricultural sector, as space is very limited and therefore needs to be used as effectively as possible. Others may be found in the weapons sector, but not as prominently since the majority of Yliakum is not adventuring (strictly, the player population would be at most 5% of the total population).
I think there will be advance philosophical and even economical concepts. Maybe Yliakum is on the verge of discovering steam power and gun powder (thereby staying consistent with the setting (advanced sciences while simoultaneously not altering the feel (no application of it)).
Edit: one thing is also important:
Tech can, just as anything else, take very different paths, depending on the slightest of variations. Just remember electricity.
Edison advocated DC, whereas Tesla advocated AC. If Edison had won, we\'d all have DC power today, which would have changed many things: each major settling would need an own power plant, as DC doesn\'t travel well. Also, light dimming wouldn\'t have been possible effectively until some years ago, and power conversion would be harder (because DC cannot be transformed).
However, Tesla later on advocated high-frequency AC, which can be distributed and converted even more easily than low-frequency AC. This was, however
not adopted, because the power companies had invested heavily in the low-frequency AC systems. Maybe our tech would significantly differ if HF-AC would have been adopted?
So this means that Yliakum nay not have discovered or utilised things that were used by us, and vice-versa.
