RE: Closest Club
No ship stands out as the ship to have. They all have their unique strengths and weaknesses. Beginners should generally look for something large enough that they can make rookie mistakes when building, but not so large and complex that they can't get it all together. Although I am a big gunner not a fast gunner, I often hear that dreadnoughts or WW1 battlecruisers (such as the VDT) meet this requirement well. If you want a Des Moines or Scharnhorst, there is nothing to stop you. It is a very good idea to see a battle with your own eyes. My [link=http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=kotori87]Big Gun videos[/link] can't quite capture the excitement of battle, and the members can provide you with excellent advice specific to your club.