Post by Fox on Jan 2, 2024 12:05:54 GMT -5
Narrative Guidelines
In order to maintain the setting and general feel of One Piece, we feel the need to establish some Narrative Guidelines that we require members to keep in mind when writing their stories. These Narrative Guidelines are intended to keep the feel and logic about the world lore-friendly, so it’s important to pay attention to these and keep them in mind. If you, as a member, feel particularly strongly about a certain interaction, discuss it with your thread partners and come to an agreement. These are not hard and fast rules, but they are important, and particularly egregious compromises might result in the staff intervention.Interactions With Unusual Races
Although a large number of different humanoid races exist within the world, an important thing to remember is that humans are the most numerous of all. Humans vastly outnumber every other race, especially in the Four Blues, where almost every other humanoid race is either extremely uncommon or entirely unheard of. Only those with deeper knowledge of the wider world, experience on the Grand Line, or perhaps ties to other races would have an understanding that these unusual people exist in the world. To most humans, things such as Giants and Mink are an anomaly, if not tall tales told by sailors.Size & Speed
While the world is home to some absolutely gargantuan beings, such as the Giants, it’s important to note that their sheer mass does have an impact on how swiftly they can act. Although there’s no mechanical limitations on the speed of a Giant (or larger entity), it’s important that you understand that their size inhibits their speed in a narrative sense. A fast Giant is a terrifying force to behold, but a much smaller creature with similar degrees of speed is going to have an edge due to the differences in scale and perception. It’s like trying to swat a fly!Haki
While every living being is capable of manifesting Haki, only a relatively small number of people actually ever do so, and this is especially true of the Color of the Supreme King. While some individuals might go through sufficient stress to awaken their raw Haki potential, knowledge of this mysterious ability is practically non-existent outside of the Grand Line. Even in Paradise, very few know it, with its prevalence only coming about in the New World. To make things more notable, training and developing your Haki requires true conflict with incredibly strong opponents, the likes of whom should only really be found in the New World, and the advanced applications of Haki are likely only to be seen and developed when there!The World Power Funnel
The very world of One Piece is designed with growth and potential in mind. While powerful individuals can arise and do exist in the Four Blues, those of notable strength and renown are usually confined to or keep themselves in the Grand Line, where the world might still challenge them. It’s important to remember that for a character to undergo legitimate growth in strength and potential, the world itself almost seems to want people to advance towards and traverse the Grand Line.Great Powers of the Sea
No matter the workings of the Rainbow Mist, the world has a rather static power structure. The World Government sits in absolute control of much of the world, supported by their chief military force, the Marines, and other branches such as Cipher Pol. But there are always other powers, including the Four Emperors, who keep the world in a state of tumult and effectively keep the World Government in check due to their influence.Poneglyphs & The Ancient Language
A staple of the mystery of the world are the events of the Void Century many centuries ago, and the long lost Ancient Kingdom. Though most of it has been forgotten and destroyed, remnants of such a time remain scattered across the world in the form of the indestructible Poneglyphs, engraved with a language forgotten to time. These objects are concealed and exceptionally rare and characters that know how to read them are few and far between—knowledge of this language is considered a severe criminal offense by the World Government and active research into the Ancient Kingdom is even more heinous. It’s also important to remember that we don’t know what is written on the Poneglyphs, aside from a select few, so be careful when creating narratives based around these.The Will of D.
The mysteries of the initial D. are another core plot point of One Piece, but one that it is possible for players to have for their characters. Its exact meaning and relevance is mostly unknown, but it has been stated that it may have significant ties to the Ancient Kingdom and the Void Century, and seems to be hereditary, or at least passed down through the family lines of its bearers. It is always attached to a person’s family name—such as Monkey D. Luffy and his paternal line—and has been said to be “God’s Natural Enemy”.