There are some answers to find, we discussed it several times. 
I just can say, that they are on a good way between being able to grind and not neccessarily need to do it. If it would have shown that it will be grindy as other games, many of us would not be here anymore. I am very sure about this point.
I like sometimes grind, if i want to do it, but not if i get forced to do it.
The level of Grind you already have in Alpha seems to promise a huge variety of things you will be able to do. It is good to have all these small things, you have to do, like picking up while traveling to the next POI 10 Stones and 5 Branches. People will know what i mean. 
Well, i did a small research for comments by Prometheus about Grind.
I think, the first result can explain it in a good way about the idea the Studio has about it.
@Prometheus said in Feature Spotlight #3 - The Knowledge System:
@vs21314 said in Feature Spotlight #3 - The Knowledge System:
And they say you wont unlock them from grinding the same thing, but I feel like in the end there isn't much difference from grinding the same thing to grinding quest to quest or area to area. So its still going to be grinding either way.
Well, that depends on your definition of grinding I guess. To us, repeating the same action at the same location (e.g. farming a mob camp for hours) to accomplish something (e.g. leveling up) is "grinding", and gets us bored quickly. Having to do several different actions at different location - including exploration, crafting, PvE, gathering - is not really a "grind" - and you can even unlock abilities while doing something related to a totally different objective 
To the Leveling:
@Headbash said in Is Fractured going to be as grindy as say Wurm On-line?:
....to get your character leveled up to a decent amount. Is Fractured going to be like that?
You don't level up your Character.
If you stand naked with an veteran beside a naked Beginner, they will have same amount of stats.
Well, there will be some differences depending on which Stats you chosed with your available Points when you create your character. Some will be more strong, some more intelligent, per example.
You keep these Stats with you, they will not rise.
But you will be able to be for sure better than the beginner, if you chosed your right Equip and Skills. Your dominance is based on the Knowledge you have.
And Knowledge is what you need to "grind". But you will be able to get them relativly easy, but to master them (not implemented yet i think) will take time.