new player what server to join
To be honest, with the megaserver system, it doesn’t really matter as much in PvE as you’ll be put into merged servers anyway. The majority of the server choice is down to the competitive WvW players.
I’m in Piken Square myself, which I personally feel, if you want the friendliest environment, is the friendliest server. You do tend to still get put in the same megaserver as other Piken Square players too, mostly in the main cities since it’s also the ‘Unofficial’ Roleplay server.
Piken Square is also quite high in the WvW tables I think, though not among the highest. 
Blood & Merlot [Wine]