As mentionned Balmung won't have only established RPers (far from it!). There will be many new ones as well and many who just haven't been there for a while so there isn't as much established stuff as one might think.
Plus, 5 years have passed in-game since 1.0 so even established characters have had a long downtime OR (if they choose to have been at the memory-altering events) have been time-warped 5 years ahead to a changed world, with people having forgotten things about them (and wondering where the hells they've been for the past 5 years) Needless to say, anything that could have been ICly considered established has changed and is now essentially Character Background material.
The only thing that is really established is the community and game progression (in terms of levels, cash and gear), and those are OOC things.
On Gilgamesh, people could still decide to RP as if they've been at The Battle and through the Time Warp, but it's probably going to be less common as the whole point of rolling on Gilgamesh is to get that fresh start.
To answer your question, I'll just say follow your friends. ^^
Normally, I'd say roll on both servers, see for yourself, but since your friends already made their choice there really is no reason not to go with them.
As for established vs brand new, if it's established RP that worries you, there's nothing to worry about.
If it's having high level wealthy people around that worries you.. you might have a little to worry about... though in my opinion, give a month and there won't be much of a difference between the two servers.
Nowadays, people reach level cap in a week, then cry about lack of endgame content.
Plus, 5 years have passed in-game since 1.0 so even established characters have had a long downtime OR (if they choose to have been at the memory-altering events) have been time-warped 5 years ahead to a changed world, with people having forgotten things about them (and wondering where the hells they've been for the past 5 years) Needless to say, anything that could have been ICly considered established has changed and is now essentially Character Background material.
The only thing that is really established is the community and game progression (in terms of levels, cash and gear), and those are OOC things.
On Gilgamesh, people could still decide to RP as if they've been at The Battle and through the Time Warp, but it's probably going to be less common as the whole point of rolling on Gilgamesh is to get that fresh start.
To answer your question, I'll just say follow your friends. ^^
Normally, I'd say roll on both servers, see for yourself, but since your friends already made their choice there really is no reason not to go with them.
As for established vs brand new, if it's established RP that worries you, there's nothing to worry about.
If it's having high level wealthy people around that worries you.. you might have a little to worry about... though in my opinion, give a month and there won't be much of a difference between the two servers.
Nowadays, people reach level cap in a week, then cry about lack of endgame content.
