Hi and Welcome to ArcheRage!
You said you are familiar with the Retail version, so you probably already know the big differences between East and West.
This server currently runs version 3.0b, so depending on when you last played Retail there could be some differences you aren't familiar with, and there are some other differences due to our server's population.
East:
- Has Sunbite Wilds, new safe zone home to the Warborn Race
- Has Rokhala, a new peace housing zone
- Less population than West, so less crowded and may be easier to find land
- Rokhala aged packs turn in for ~80 Charcoal overseas
- Has better infrastructure for Charcoal packs
West:
- Has the new Dwarf Race, and 2 safe Dwarf zones: Airain Rock and Aubre Cradle
- Has Ahnimar, new peace housing zone
- More population than East, more crowded and less free space for housing
- Karkasse Aged packs are the equivalent of Rokhala packs, but are harder to get out
- Has better safe land runs for Trade packs
I can't speak for West, but on East there is a daily pug Reset Raid that fills up fairly quickly. There's frequent CR/GR pug raids as well.