I found a survival multiplayer server called OVERSTRESSED SMP and it just launched after weeks of work.
It has a custom questline with over 250 quests so you always have stuff to do. There is a player run economy with shops plus a currency system.
Spawn is huge and made by the staff team and it sounds like you are supposed to explore it. You can pick your route out of spawn and either take a bridge to town or go down into the forest.
There is a road network connecting the world so travel feels like a real journey. You start with some spurs and you can grab a horse and head out.
