Not sure if this will give new prospective, I just moved to Blackgate a few months back. After months of guessing on 5 different servers (because my guildies stopped playing), I decided that the ppl I met on Blackgate were the type of players that I wanted to play with. They are very helpfully almost never have had any negative experiences here but, my time here I have gotten a new prospective on tier 1 servers. This is what I see in Tier 1
JQ: Very massive population (Very surprised to find out that BG has more), especially in NA time zones. As for as a PVE environment very similar to Blackgate. Both servers take their status in PVE and WvW very serious. Temples are always happening including Arah and a lot of friendly people to play with. WvW they are a unyielding force to be dealt with, usually I find BG zergs to win against JQ zergs 60% of the time. But be assured JQ zerg is on there way back if you down them.
SOR: I personally find them to not really be much of a PVE server. They are a loyal group, but I “Personally” didn’t find them to be as welcoming. As for WvW, I will say they have some of the best and some of the hardest hitting players I have ever seen. I know Blackgate loves to fight SoR as they are a hell of a fight when they are on. But, you can tell they do not have the coverage JQ and BG do. I would say a SoR has about a 60% win rate against BG in WvW, from what I have experienced.
Blackgate: Very tight friendly group for both PVE and WvW. If you have a question always ask, they will never hesitate to answer questions much like JQ. If you want to be a commander just ask they will train you. They take there status PVE and WvW VERY serious. As for WvW, they are a very friendly but very loyal group. If JQ and SoR press a 2 on 1 and take every base and keep we have, does not matter, that zone will be qued and ppl will rush and fight their hardest. Just experienced this yesterday. They also understand that EB is a place to hold the line most of the time and that there is not point in always having max zerg in EB if you own your keep and 4 bases. Best to skim off and press on a BL instead leaving a good size group to handle maintaining the line. As for WvW que’s 95% of the time you will (if at all) have a 5 to 15 minute que time tops. However on rest night EB and BGBL will be qued and you might as will wait a few hours to try if you don’t get in, but the other two BL’s will have a normal que of about 5 to 15. I will also say they have some VERY determined guilds that are VERY friendly and take WvW serious. Like OnS, KnT, EE, GoF, HB and JL, but if you have question Everyone of them will answer right away.
Again that is my experience of Tier 1.
