Next Strawhat Crewmate (Vol. 6)

[Aortax]

@RobbyBevard:

Its not a pattern if in order to make it work you have to cut out the main character, ignore Vivi and Carue, and shuffle the order around of the "sets" you've made that don't line up anyway.

Oda isn't writing a pattern. He's writing an organic story and isn't going to be hamstrung by some vauge idea of repetition that doesn't even make sense.

Luffy = has a scar on the left
Zoro = has a scar on the left
Nami = has a tatoo on the left
Usopp = has no distinguishing feature on the left
Sanji = has his hair parted/one eye showing on the left
Chopper = Has a broken horn on the left
Robin = has no distinguishing feature on the left
Franky = has no distinguishing feature on the left
Brook = has a skull crack on the right!
Jinbe = has a scar on the left

What can this patern possibly mean?!? Obviously it a pattern of 3 lefts, 1 nothing, 2 lefts, 2 nothings, 1 right, 1 left! Almost had something if not for Brook!

But hey, Sabo is clearly scarred on his left, so maybe he'll be next to join!

Didn't Sabo want to be pirate king on his own? Well Jinbe for steering sabo , for a smarter version of luffy I suppose in way , and viola for looking out is good. They need a person that steers the ship which Jinbe will do and a lookout which Viola is probably best in the world. Zoro is probably sleeping up there.

[Robby]

Stop writing your posts in giant bold font. It's really annoying.

[Light Bro]

@Aortax:

They can take both in or he can quickly teach viola the dark arts of look looking good oh wait she already knows lol.

Look at him!

Seriously, look at him!

That is perfection! Men and women all over the world fight, bleed and die in order to have such a great fashion sense as him! He could use a lifetime to teach Viola how to look as fashionable and she wouldn't grasp one swatted fly of it! There's no other way! He has to join the Straw Hats in order to make them look as good as Pirate King's crew should!

[Kishido]

My brain is imploding… So much weird stuff and now coming all the way from shitty forums

[RamistaR]

@RobbyBevard:

Its not a pattern if in order to make it work you have to cut out the main character, ignore Vivi and Carue, and shuffle the order around of the "sets" you've made that don't line up anyway.

Oda isn't writing a pattern. He's writing an organic story and isn't going to be hamstrung by some vauge idea of repetition that doesn't even make sense.

Luffy = has a scar on the left
Zoro = has a scar on the left
Nami = has a tatoo on the left
Usopp = has no distinguishing feature on the left
Sanji = has his hair parted/one eye showing on the left
Chopper = Has a broken horn on the left
Robin = has no distinguishing feature on the left
Franky = has no distinguishing feature on the left
Brook = has a skull crack on the right!
Jinbe = has a scar on the left

What can this patern possibly mean?!? Obviously it a pattern of 3 lefts, 1 nothing, 2 lefts, 2 nothings, 1 right, 1 left! Almost had something if not for Brook!

But hey, Sabo is clearly scarred on his left, so maybe he'll be next to join!

This awkward moment when you realize that Shanks is joining!

[sinreturns]

@RobbyBevard:

Its not a pattern if in order to make it work you have to cut out the main character, ignore Vivi and Carue, and shuffle the order around of the "sets" you've made that don't line up anyway.

Oda isn't writing a pattern. He's writing an organic story and isn't going to be hamstrung by some vauge idea of repetition that doesn't even make sense.

Luffy = has a scar on the left
Zoro = has a scar on the left
Nami = has a tatoo on the left
Usopp = has no distinguishing feature on the left
Sanji = has his hair parted/one eye showing on the left
Chopper = Has a broken horn on the left
Robin = has no distinguishing feature on the left
Franky = has no distinguishing feature on the left
Brook = has a skull crack on the right!
Jinbe = has a scar on the left

What can this patern possibly mean?!? Obviously it a pattern of 3 lefts, 1 nothing, 2 lefts, 2 nothings, 1 right, 1 left! Almost had something if not for Brook!

But hey, Sabo is clearly scarred on his left, so maybe he'll be next to join!

Oda's story has a structure and a format. I'm not saying that the pattern is the only thing to look at. Story narrative will always be the first and most important thing when it comes to making predictions.

The pattern is only looking at characters who Luffy has invited and those who have actually accepted the invitation. Vivi/Carue got an invitation but they didn't join.

Switching around the order of which a certain character joins keeps the story fresh. The pattern isn't random. It basically covers all the possible joining order keeping in mind that the female will always be second.

For example, Oda pointed out that Luffy wanted a musician around the time Zoro was introduced. Right when Luffy entered paradise we saw Laboon but we didn't meet Brook until TB. All I am saying is that Oda probably has some type of order in mind with what character joins when.

Oda even does a count down when each crew member joins. For example, CH 6 is called "The First Crew Member"..when Zoro joined. Only exception to this is Robin and Chopper who haven't gotten their numbering. Even this is probably because Oda didn't want to give away that Vivi wasn't joining at the end of Alabasta.

[Aortax]

@Light:

Look at him!

http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131220050761/onepiece/images/thumb/b/bc/Dellinger_Manga_Infobox.png/250px-Dellinger_Manga_Infobox.png

Seriously, look at him!

That is perfection! Men and women all over the world fight, bleed and die in order to have such a great fashion sense as him! He could use a lifetime to teach Viola how to look as fashionable and she wouldn't grasp one swatted fly of it! There's no other way! He has to join the Straw Hats in order to make them look as good as Pirate King's crew should!

Is he a boy or a girl I am being serious lol.

[RamistaR]

@Aortax:

Is he a boy or a girl I am being serious lol.

I am afraid he is the same as Crocodile.

[Light Bro]

@Kishido:

My brain is imploding… So much weird stuff and now coming all the way from shitty forums

@Aortax:

Is he a boy or a girl I am being serious lol.

Of course he's a boy! Do you see any boobs on her?

[custodian]

@Aortax:

Is he a boy or a girl I am being serious lol.

Neither. He's just fabulous!

[Robby]

@sinreturns:

The pattern is only looking at characters who Luffy has invited and those who have actually accepted the invitation. Vivi/Carue got an invitation but they didn't join.

So how do Gaimon, Kureha, Iceburg, the unicorn, and Kinemon's legs factor in?

Switching around the order of which a certain character joins keeps the story fresh. The pattern isn't random. It basically covers all the possible joining order keeping in mind that the female will always be second.

It's NOT A PATTERN if you have to get super vauge, arbitrarily assign something, and switch things around!

Among other things, Chopper might be a scardey cat but he's not a weakling, he was often hanging out in tough mode with the monsters until Franky joined. And reducing Robin and Nami to "women" as their role in in the setup? Why not weakling on nami, and powerhouse on Robin? Instead of "Swordsman" for Zoro and Brook, why not "comedic character" for Usopp and then for Brook? Or what about "fixes things" for Usopp and then Franky? What about "Flirts with women" for Sanji and Brook? What about short/tall characters? What about the fact that there's curently a monster trio, a mid trio, and a weakling trio?

Oda even does a count down when each crew member joins. For example, CH 6 is called "The First Crew Member"..when Zoro joined. Only exception to this is Robin and Chopper who haven't gotten their numbering.

Labeling the order they join is an ordered list… and not a pattern? Unless 1, 2 ,3 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 is really a pattern that has to be pointed out?

[Aortax]

I was just thinking can franky change the sunny for the new crew members if they want or need to? Can he expand it so there is more space for people?

[sinreturns]

@RobbyBevard:

So how do Gaimon, Kureha, Iceburg, the unicorn, and Kinemon's legs factor in?

They didn't join so you can't include them. Same thing would apply to characters like Crocus..who got an invitation from Luffy but declined saying that he is too old. lol

@RobbyBevard:

It's NOT A PATTERN if you have to get super vauge, arbitrarily assign something, and switch things around!

Among other things, Chopper might be a scardey cat but he's not a weakling, he was often hanging out in tough mode with the monsters until Franky joined. And reducing Robin and Nami to "women" as their role in in the setup? Why not weakling on nami, and powerhouse on Robin? Instead of "Swordsman" for Zoro and Brook, why not "comedic character" for Usopp and then for Brook? Or what about "fixes things" for Usopp and then Franky? What about "Flirts with women" for Sanji and Brook? What about short/tall characters? What about the fact that there's curently a monster trio, a mid trio, and a weakling trio?

If I start looking at every single variable then there is just too much information. This is why I limited things to Swordsmen/Brawler/Weakling/Female. Some of the characters are very diverse. All different sizes and shapes. Especially the "weaklings" But there is enough evidence in the story for me to call Usopp/Chopper weaklings when looking at the group comparatively.

The easiest way to to separate the group was by gender first that is why Robin/Nami are reduced to just being called females..

@RobbyBevard:

Labeling the order they join is an ordered list… and not a pattern? Unless 1, 2 ,3 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 is really a pattern that has to be pointed out?

Maybe using the word "pattern" isn't the right choice of words.

What I am talking about is getting all the possible combinations. For example you have 1,2,3. limiting that a number may not be repeated in the same order you would only get three possible combinations.

1,2,3
2,3,1
3,1,2

Whatever you want to call this…this is what I was trying to say.

[bluntzilla]

The only definitive pattern that indicates if a character will be a Strawhat is if they join the Strawhats.

Oh wait. I forgot about Vivi.

So uh, yeah. Patterns are useless.

[RamistaR]

@Aortax:

I was just thinking can franky change the sunny for the new crew members if they want or need to? Can he expand it so there is more space for people?

I don't see the Sunny lacking space. The kitchen looked small with Law, Momo, and Kin in chapter 700 but the ship itself is large enough to welcome for 20 more nakama as it is right now.

[Aortax]

@RamistaR:

I don't see the Sunny lacking space. The kitchen looked small with Law? Momo, and Kin in chapter 700 but the ship itself is large enough to welcome for 20 more nakama as it is right now.

I meant like adding things new structures on it can he do it? For example a taller lookout area than zoros gym or a room up there is that possible or they need to replace the mast?

[RamistaR]

@Aortax:

I meant like adding things new structures on it can he do it? For example a taller lookout area than zoros gym or a room up there is that possible or they need to replace the mast?

If Franky upgrades it too much, the ship that left Water 7 will not really be the one that reaches Roughtell. And I do not think that Roger needed to increase the Oro Jackson's fire power as well. Furthermore the Sunny is made of a wood too rare to be replaced like that.

[cooldud]

@sinreturns:

If I start looking at every single variable then there is just too much information.

So you'll only look at the variables which fit your theory. Gotcha.

@sinreturns:

Some of the characters are very diverse. All different sizes and shapes. Especially the "weaklings" But there is enough evidence in the story for me to call Usopp/Chopper weaklings when looking at the group comparatively.

Diversity enables you to make even more potential divisions to box the crewmates in and go "Hey! I found a pattern! So the next crewmate would totes be someone from the Jersey Shore!" See the problem with going with this logic?

@sinreturns:

The easiest way to to separate the group was by gender first that is why Robin/Nami are reduced to just being called females..

Dude… Just, dude...

[[/COLOR]QUOTE=sinreturns;3151752]
Maybe using the word "pattern" isn't the right choice of words.

What I am talking about is getting all the possible combinations. For example you have 1,2,3. limiting that a number may not be repeated in the same order you would only get three possible combinations.

1,2,3
2,3,1
3,1,2

Whatever you want to call this…this is what I was trying to say.

What you did with 1,2 and 3 is called permutations. And they don't have anything to do with your theory. Like, at all.

[sinreturns]

@cooldud:

So you'll only look at the variables which fit your theory. Gotcha.

Diversity enables you to make even more potential divisions to box the crewmates in and go "Hey! I found a pattern! So the next crewmate would totes be someone from the Jersey Shore!" See the problem with going with this logic?

I have no problem looking at the other variables. Only reason why I was trying to simplify things was because it just easier to type out the theory. The order still holds up even with including other variables. I have already said that this is a borderline autistic logic and that looking at the story narrative is always going to be the first and major thing to look at. All I was trying to do was point out the possibility that Oda has a set order of joining in mind already and has shown us this with the current crew members.

@cooldud:

What you did with 1,2 and 3 is called permutations. And they don't have anything to do with your theory. Like, at all.

If you say
1=Swordsmen
2=Weakling
3=Brawler
Looking at the numbers above basically tell you the combination I was referring to. 1,2,3 for EB, 2,3,1 for Paradise, and Possibly 3,1,2 for the New World.

[Robby]

@sinreturns:

If I start looking at every single variable then there is just too much information.

So you are just making up specific generic designations to fit your theory. And they're not even in the right order to make sense. Don;t you see the inherant problem with that?

You could also say "Every strawhat's name only has two syllables in it" and that seems pretty sound, until you realize "Fu-Ran-Ki" has three syllables in Japanese. It's not a pattern if you have to stretch the facts to make it one.

You could also make a theory up based on who wears pants, shorts, suits, dresses and kimonos.

Luffy-Shorts
Zoro- Pants
Nami- Dress
Usopp-Pants
Sanji-Pants
Chopper- Shorts
Vivi-Pants
Robin-Dress
Franky-Shorts
Brook- Pants
Jinbe- Kimon0/dress like.

There's clearly a shorts/pants/dress patern, (as long as you ignore someone) and it even includes Vivi! And if you need flexibility, on ocassion Vivi wore dresses, Nami now wears pants, Robin has worn short skirts, and Zoro now wears something else entirely. Any pattern you need you can make with that kind of flexibility!

Do you see the problem with picking and choosing the things you decide to make a pattern out of that also includes omitting details because they're inconvenient or "too many"?

There's being provided evidence, and then making a theory around it. That's the stuff that gets traction and talked about.

Then there's creating a theory, and making up evidence to support it. That's the stuff that gets torn apart as nonsense.

[RamistaR]

@RobbyBevard:

Brook- Pants

It can not be a coïncidence!

[sinreturns]

@RobbyBevard:

So you are just making up specific generic designations to fit your theory. And they're not even in the right order to make sense. Don;t you see the inherant problem with that?

You could also say "Every strawhat's name only has two syllables in it" and that seems pretty sound, until you realize "Fu-Ran-Ki" has three syllables in Japanese. It's not a pattern if you have to stretch the facts to make it one.

You could also make a theory up based on who wears pants, shorts, suits, dresses and kimonos.

Luffy-Shorts
Zoro- Pants
Nami- Dress
Usopp-Pants
Sanji-Pants
Chopper- Shorts
Vivi-Pants
Robin-Dress
Franky-Shorts
Brook- Pants
Jinbe- Kimon0/dress like.

There's clearly a shorts/pants/dress patern, (as long as you ignore someone) and it even includes Vivi! And if you need flexibility, on ocassion Vivi wore dresses, Nami now wears pants, Robin has worn short skirts, and Zoro now wears something else entirely. Any pattern you need you can make with that kind of flexibility!

Do you see the problem with picking and choosing the things you decide to make a pattern out of that also includes omitting details because they're inconvenient or "too many"?

There's being provided evidence, and then making a theory around it. That's the stuff that gets traction and talked about.

Then there's creating a theory, and making up evidence to support it. That's the stuff that gets torn apart as nonsense.

The theory I posted wasn't based off of small detail like if a character wears pants or some other attire. I see where you are going with this tho.

Instead of talking about other patterns feel free to critique the pattern that I mentioned. I agree with you about disproving theories. I didn't make up the evidence I looked at the crew and the evidence in the story to formulate the possible future combination.

How do you explain the character's height? Just want to know how you would explain that the 6th person(Robin) is ~6ft, 7th person(Franky) is ~7ft, 8th person(Brook) is ~8ft. Disregarding the pattern…all I am trying to say is that Oda probably has the crew planned out. If this is true then speculating that he also has planned the order of future nakama is reasonable.

An author might not plan out the order of how his main cast forms by the fact that a character dons pants or not but why isn't it possible that there is some reasoning and planning on what character joins when? Having two swordsmen join back to back might not be ideal so it would make sense that the author might decide to space things out. Have Zoro join first and Brook join 8th.

I apologize if I am annoying you guys with my talk about patterns. lol Its just a minor theory. It was mostly food for thought or just something I wanted to share. There were multiple layers to the theory but I don't know If you guys want to hear it. lol

For example,
Zoro/Brook both had some connection to Ryuma. Zoro got his sword, and Ryuma had Brook's shadow. So the last Swordsmen probably will have something to do with Wano Country the place Ryuma was from.

Sanji/Franky/Jinbe all had a place that they felt like they owed something to. Sanji had the thug cooks and Zeff…Franky had the Franky Family and Water 7/Ice Burg/Tom..etc....Jinbe has the thugs from Fishmen district/ex-slaves..etc

Usopp/Chopper both had their home place invaded by someone...Captain Kuro was trying to invade Syrup Village, and Wapol was trying to retake Drum Island.

Nami/Robin both were being used by someone. Nami was being used by Arlong for her map making...Robin was being used by Croc to find an ancient weapon.

[Robby]

@sinreturns:

Instead of talking about other patterns feel free to critique the pattern that I mentioned.

You DIDN'T find a pattern.

That's the point.

You made one up by creating loose, incredibly generic labels that aren't even in a consistent order.

.all I am trying to say is that Oda probably has the crew planned out.

It's commonly known fact Oda has the crew planned out. he had sketches for most of them before the series even started. No one is arguing Oda has a plan. (Though Robin wasn't in it originally.)

But he doesn't have a random nonsensical pattern about it.

Yes, Oda probably didn't put Zoro and Brook next to each other to help avoid clashing swordsmen. But he also did it so the Laboon reveal would have time to sit, and so the gentleman could be different than Sanji, and so that Luffy's ongoing gag of wanting a useless musician instead of something useful would have time to be an ongoing gag. He didn't create the order just to go "one swordsman out of every four members in an even/odd pattern".

Oda also once thought the series would only take five years.

If you want to talk about THEMES, or recurring qualities (plural), yes, those are things you can point to. There's broad characteristics that all the strawhats share, things that are requisite, but you aren't going to come up with a bullet point pattern that boils it down to one word descriptions that makes the next candidate guessable without even seeing them. Writers don't work like that.

Sanji/Franky/Jinbe all had a place that they felt like they owed something to. Sanji had the thug cooks and Zeff…Franky had the Franky Family and Water 7/Ice Burg/Tom..etc....Jinbe has the thugs from Fishmen district/ex-slaves..etc

Usopp/Chopper both had their home place invaded by someone...Captain Kuro was trying to invade Syrup Village, and Wapol was trying to retake Drum Island.

Those are the same things. Usopp had the Usopp pirares and Chopper had Kureha, who were family/those they felt they owed something to. Sanji, Franky, jinbe, and Nami ALL had their homes and families invaded, and wanted to protect their loved ones. So did Luffy for that matter.

Making up a random distinction to break them into a grouping you made up, doesn't mean the distinction is actually there.

Nami/Robin both were being used by someone.

So were Franky, Brook, and Jinbe, to different degrees.

[benjamminbrown]

Sin, I think all you're noticing is that Oda as an author is not afraid to reuse themes when creating his characters. This does not mean that there is necessarily any pattern to how he does it, though.
Understand that Oda is just trying to create memorable characters that we all like. He's not trying to create some mathematical pattern at the same time just to amaze people who notice it or whatever.

And the height thing is just silly. Luffy != 1 foot. Zoro != 2 feet. Nami != 3 feet. Also, Japan uses the metric system.

[sinreturns]

@RobbyBevard:

You DIDN'T find a pattern.

That's the point.

You made one up by creating loose, incredibly generic labels that aren't even in a consistent order.

Oh my bad I don't know why I keep calling it a pattern.

The whole point of the theory is to just outline the possibility that IF 4 more people join during the New World what could be the possible order. It is meant to be generic. Its just an observation of how Oda has been writing the story.

I respect your input so can you address the rest of my post. I don't mind if you disagree just wanted to see if anyone thought it was a plausible idea. This theory is pretty old too its not like I made it up yesterday. After Brook Joined I started considering the theory. After Jinbe got his invitation I started thinking maybe "this is what Oda might be going for" lol

@benjamminbrown:

Sin, I think all you're noticing is that Oda as an author is not afraid to reuse themes when creating his characters. This does not mean that there is necessarily any pattern to how he does it, though.
Understand that Oda is just trying to create memorable characters that we all like. He's not trying to create some mathematical pattern at the same time just to amaze people who notice it or whatever.

And the height thing is just silly. Luffy != 1 foot. Zoro != 2 feet. Nami != 3 feet. Also, Japan uses the metric system.

You could be right. When characters have something in common they can relate with each other. Might increase the solidarity among the group. The themes are all unique but not so unique that they are overwhelming. The themes are similar in some aspects but not so similar that they are underwhelming. I think Oda has found a good balance.

As for East Blue All the crew members were normal height…it wasn't until Luffy entered the grand line that we started seeing this strange incline in height with each crew member.

[Robby]

At this point, people have checklists of qualities they think all strawhats have, (And those make some sense for basics) but at this juncture I offer the simple question that eliminates most stupid candidates.

"What are at least three unique features about the character's design that keep them from being generic?"

If you can't immediately name three things that make them visually unique and different from the rest of the crew, Oda probably didn't put enough time into them for them to be a main character. Things that suggest the character has a lot of story and thought put into them. Oda wasn't quite as good about it early on, so the likes of Zoro and Nami are fairly generic, but… gets a bit of a pass due to being one of the first characters.

Luffy-Strawhat, scar, perpetual grin, dynamic looking stretch powers, shirt/vest/sandals combo
Zoro-Bandana, three sword style, buzz cut, scar (after timeskip)
Nami- only girl at the time, tattoo (bikini/pants combo after timeskip)
Usopp- long nose, big lips, armadillo hat, slingshot style
Sanji- covered eye, curly eyebrow, perpetual smoker, full suit and tie, kicking fight syle
Chopper- talking reindeer, broken horn, blue nose, multiple designs, X hat
Robin- unique nose, unique eyes, haircut (Less so over timeskip) Storywise at least she was pretty clearly important right out the gate.
Franky- robot nose, triple chin, ace ventura hair, hawaiian shirt, speedo, popeye arms, star tattoos.. and even crazier after timeskip.
Brook- Skeleton, crack in skull, afro, fancy torn suit, unusually tall, sword cane. Boa and crown after timeskip.
Jinbe- Fishman, lightning scar, unusual body type, tusks, stripes in hair, sun tattoo

If a new character doesn't have that much thought put into them... if you can't point to at least three unusual things out the gate as soon as you see their design? They probably aren't likely. And if they're a girl that looks like Nami, already the blandest and most generic design in the group? They're really not happening.

(This extend to other character like Arlong, Crocodile or Smoker or Enel, who similarly have multiple very distinguishable heavily thought out features... compared to the grunts in their employ.)

[benjamminbrown]

Sin, I see how you make the distinction between characters that are affected/unaffected by the height "pattern", but what say you to the fact that Japan uses centimeters to measure height?

[sinreturns]

Oh I just saw you responded to what I said.

@RobbyBevard:

But he doesn't have a random nonsensical pattern about it.

Assuming that 4 people might join in the NW..and some of the themes and character traits we have seen repeat in East blue and Paradise, might occur in the New World isn't as random and nonsensical as you are putting it.

@RobbyBevard:

Yes, Oda probably didn't put Zoro and Brook next to each other to help avoid clashing swordsmen. But he also did it so the Laboon reveal would have time to sit, and so the gentleman could be different than Sanji, and so that Luffy's ongoing gag of wanting a useless musician instead of something useful would have time to be an ongoing gag. He didn't create the order just to go "one swordsman out of every four members in an even/odd pattern".

The story has its flow and the story narrative has its repetitive themes every now and then. This is the only reason why I am looking at the story and trying to predict what might happen next. There is no way I can predict small details but if someone like Oda has already decided on what the final crew will be like and has said that he is looking forward to writing the final arc. When themes repeat like this it could hint that the author might continue doing what isn't broken. Obviously it won't be the same exact thing twice but it will have variations. The Brawler/Female/Swordsmen/Weakling prediction just waters everything down.

For example, Jinbe got his invitation in FI. Luffy goes to PH and meets Kinemon/Momo..on their way to DR Oda foreshadows that the crew will go to Zou and then Luffy wants to go to Wano. By the time the crew gets on DR Oda also foreshadows that Nami's group could potentially split up when Law gave her the vivre card to Zou. This is similar to Sanji's arc, and how the crew split up..where Luffy was left in the area that needed the villain taken care of and the other crew members went to handle what was going on in the next arc. Similar thing happened in Water 7 where Sanji left after Robin and Franky/Usopp were with Robin on her train headed to the next arc…where Luffy was stuck somewhere.

This sounds familiar..and with Big mams involvement we could see Jinbe get added to the plot soon.

@RobbyBevard:

Oda also once thought the series would only take five years.

If you want to talk about THEMES, or recurring qualities (plural), yes, those are things you can point to. There's broad characteristics that all the strawhats share, things that are requisite, but you aren't going to come up with a bullet point pattern that boils it down to one word descriptions that makes the next candidate guessable without even seeing them. Writers don't work like that.

The reoccurring themes are what inspired me to come up with the possible order…its just that I used arbitrary labeling so it would be easier to explain.

@RobbyBevard:

Those are the same things. Usopp had the Usopp pirares and Chopper had Kureha, who were family/those they felt they owed something to. Sanji, Franky, jinbe, and Nami ALL had their homes and families invaded, and wanted to protect their loved ones. So did Luffy for that matter.

Just about all of the crew members had someone who they might call family but Usopp/Chopper's situation wasn't similar to how Sanji/Franky/Jinbe's is…there is more of a..sense of duty. lol

Sanji felt like he had to stay because Zeff sacrificed his leg..he was ready to sacrifice himself.
Franky felt like he had to stay because he was in a way being a protector of Water 7 by taking care of pirates..or looking after some of the thug locals..
Jinbe has his own reasons for why he has worked with the WG or took charge of the Fishmen Pirates/ex slaves.

What I am saying is the intensity of the comparison is different.

@RobbyBevard:

Making up a random distinction to break them into a grouping you made up, doesn't mean the distinction is actually there.

A character uses a sword and is called a swordsmen = Swordsmen
A character is a female…self explanatory
A character does some form of physical brawling..kicking/boxing/karate..= Brawler
A person or animal who is considered weak in any point and time in comparison to the other 4 members in each segment of the journey = Weakling

Looks very simple. lol

@benjamminbrown:

Sin, I see how you make the distinction between characters that are affected/unaffected by the height "pattern", but what say you to the fact that Japan uses centimeters to measure height?

I would think they know how to convert cm to feet. lol

[Robby]

@sinreturns:

A character uses a sword and is called a swordsmen = Swordsmen
A character is a female…self explanatory
A character does some form of physical brawling..kicking/boxing/karate..= Brawler
A person or animal who is considered weak in any point and time in comparison to the other 4 members in each segment of the journey = Weakling

Looks very simple. lol

A person that has black curly hair -Usopp and Brook
A person who has a facial scar on their left side- Luffy, Zoro, Jinbe
A person that has an unusual nose and lost a mentor but not a parent- Franky, Chopper and Robin
A person that has a tatoo and history with Arlong- Nami and Jinbe
A person that wears black suits that likes women- Sanji and Brook

Looks very simple.

Just as arbitrary and random a distinction. Doesn't mean anything.

Has an A in their name. Nami, Sanji, Franky
Has an E in their name. Chopper, Jinbei
Has an I in their name. Nami, Sanji, Robin, Jinbei
Has an O in their name. Zoro, Usopp, Chopper, Brook
Has an U in their name. Luffy, Usopp,
Has two of the same letter- Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Chopper, Brook

Looks very simple.

Clearly the next crewmate will have an E and a U in their name to balance it out, and probably a double letter since half the strawhats do!

You CAN'T just pick arbitrary minor traits and decide "pattern!" It just doesn't work that way. Strawhat candidates have a huge assortment of common traits, but nothing as generic as you are making up.

@sinreturns:

For example, Jinbe got his invitation in FI. Luffy goes to PH and meets Kinemon/Momo..on their way to DR Oda foreshadows that the crew will go to Zou and then Luffy wants to go to Wano. By the time the crew gets on DR Oda also foreshadows that Nami's group could potentially split up when Law gave her the vivre card to Zou. This is similar to Sanji's arc, and how the crew split up..where Luffy was left in the area that needed the villain taken care of and the other crew members went to handle what was going on in the next arc. Similar thing happened in Water 7 where Sanji left after Robin and Franky/Usopp were with Robin on her train headed to the next arc…where Luffy was stuck somewhere.

That's setting up plot elements in advance, and splitting the overlarge cast to a more manageable size. Cohesive storytelling. That is NOT Oda going "I think I want to repeat exactly what I did before based on a one word checklist of goals!".

Arguments can definitely be made about Dresserosa being an intentional thematic repeat of Alabasta however.

[sinreturns]

@RobbyBevard:

A person that has black curly hair -Usopp and Brook
A person who has a facial scar- Luffy, Zoro, Jinbe
A person that has an unusual nose- Franky, Chopper and Robin
A person that has a tatoo- Nami and Jinbe

See. Just as arbitrary and random. Doesn't mean anything.

A person that has a tatoo Nami/Jinbe/Franky(he has a star shaped tatoo on his forearm) lol

yeah simplicity doesn't always = nonsense…so far you are ignoring the story narrative and simply giving completely random tributes.. BTW nothing wrong with Robin's nose..you could say a dwarf has an unusual nose. robin just has a distinct nose.

the labels are arbitrary..I am basically pointing at the similar reoccurring themes that each group has. Like I said I am using the labels just to make describing the certain characters easier. If you want we could just call them Group 1, 2, and 3. Each group has a certain amount of similarities that let them belong to said group and on top of that also have similar themes they share in their respective stories..not just one detail...its more like a compilation of multiple attributes.

[Robby]

@sinreturns:

yeah simplicity doesn't always = nonsense…so far you are ignoring the story narrative and simply giving completely random tributes.

No. That is what YOU are doing.

I'm demonstrating the absurdity of that with examples of exactly the same thing, to try and show you how absurd and far reaching your idea is..

the labels are arbitrary..I am basically pointing at the similar reoccurring themes that each group has.

If the labels are arbitrary, then its not a recurring theme! YOU ARE MAKING THE LABELS UP TO SUIT YOUR THEORY!

East Blue
Zoro- has fantastic upper arm strength
Nami- spent a life on the run working for pirates
Usopp- likes repairing things
Sanji- Likes women

Grand Line
Chopper- has fantastic upper arm strength
Robin- spent a life on the run working for pirates
Franky-likes repairing things
Brook- Likes women

It's totally a pattern! In order even!

Or here's a different set!
East Blue
Zoro- at all times wears an item that reminds him of his childhood friend
Nami- has taken a bath on camera at least twice
Usopp- shoots long range artillery
Sanji- wears black suits

Grand Line
Chopper- at all times wears an item that reminds him of his childhood friend
Robin- has taken a bath on camera at least twice
Franky-shoots long range artillery
Brook- wears black suits

[sinreturns]

@RobbyBevard:

No. That is what YOU are doing.

I'm demonstrating the absurdity of that with examples of exactly the same thing, to try and show you how absurd and far reaching your idea is..

If the labels are arbitrary, then its not a recurring theme! YOU ARE MAKING THE LABELS UP TO SUIT YOUR THEORY!

East Blue
Zoro- has fantastic upper arm strength
Nami- spent a life on the run working for pirates
Usopp- likes repairing things
Sanji- Likes women

Grand Line
Chopper- has fantastic upper arm strength
Robin- spent a life on the run working for pirates
Franky-likes repairing things
Brook- Likes women

It's totally a pattern! In order even!

You are clearly exaggerating the point here. Each group that I mentioned has similar reoccurring themes more so then the other groups do. Its not just "let me pick random attributes and just stick with that, and lets call it a pattern"

Actually I like the patterns you are posting..just shows that the crew can have similar attributes that reoccur in each segment.

Might as well continue this experiment.

New World
Jinbe - has fantastic upper arm strength
for the female..what you said kind of fits the entire dwarf race since they have been hiding from humans and working for pirates(DD's family)
Kinemon - liked repairing things…you can say he likes repairing clothes.
Momo- likes women.

[Robby]

@sinreturns:

You are clearly exaggerating the point here. Each group that I mentioned has similar reoccurring themes more so then the other groups do. Its not just "let me pick random attributes and just stick with that, and lets call it a pattern"

"Is a woman" ISN'T a random, incredibly broad, meaningless attribute that you're calling a pattern?
The fact that Brawler has to leave out Luffy and Chopper? That you have to put aside the fact Chopper is one of the STRONG ones to put him in the weak group? That the three strongest characters are all canonically from East Blue?

Your applications are just as arbitrary, random and nonsensical as the crap I'm making up on the spot.

Here's an out of sequence one, like your theory.
Zoro- Quiet
Nami- Shameless
Usopp- Gullible
Sanji- Enthusiastic

Grand Line
Chopper- Gullible
Robin- Quiet
Franky- Enthusiastic
Brook- Shameless

It's NOT A PATTERN. It's leaving things out and simplifying to an extreme to create something vague and generic that isn't actually there.

[King Cannon]

Chopper likes to repair people.

[Smiley]

To think we still have to wait for Jinbe and one more person to join so that we can burn this thread and put it's ashes six feet under the ground.

[sinreturns]

@RobbyBevard:

"Is a woman" ISN'T a random meaningless attribute that you're calling a pattenr?
The fact that Brawler has to leave out Luffy and Chopper? That the series itself has split the groups into a set of three but you feel a need to put four of them into a weak group?

Your applications are just as arbitrary as the crap I'm making up on the spot.

The arbitrary stuff you are making up just now isn't crap. lol you were easily giving similarities between the group that joined in EB and the group in Paradise, and I am sure you can give more similarities if you want..just goes to show you that the crew has some overlap but each member still is distinct.

I completely agree that the series has split most of the groups into threes.

Robin, Zoro, Jinbe 3 people who are like demons…Robin was called a demon child by the government...Zoro has a demon god in him....Jinbe looks like a demon Oni...

Usopp, Jinbe, Sanji 3 people who didn't have some type of goatee in the past and were later shown to have a goatee later.

Most of the Crew similarities are in trios it seems.

I never said the weakling couldn't be a brawler…hell we could have a weakling who is also a swordsmen.

Usopp isn't gullible..

[Robby]

Character overlap isn't the same as a definitive pattern that indicates what comes next. Because you could tie literally anything together to make a pattern to prove your point if you go vaugue enough and just ignore the things that fit your idea.

3 strawhats have worn dresses. 4 if you count Vivi. What does it mean? Nothing!

[sinreturns]

@RobbyBevard:

Character overlap isn't the same as a definitive pattern that indicates what comes next. Because you could tie literally anything together to make a pattern to prove your point if you go vaugue enough and just ignore the things that fit your idea.

3 strawhats have worn dresses. 4 if you count Vivi. What does it mean? Nothing!

If we see characters in the New world who also have these similarities then what?

[El-Matematico]

I just wanted to say that Sinreturns is incurring in the Texas sharpshooter fallacy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_sharpshooter_fallacy.

And Jinbe won't die, so there is only one free spot. And if all the hints that show Vivi as a nakama lead to somewhere, there may be no free spot at all.

[sinreturns]

@El-Matematico:

I just wanted to say that Sinreturns is incurring in the Texas sharpshooter fallacy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_sharpshooter_fallacy.

And Jinbe won't die, so there is only one free spot. And if all the hints that show Vivi as a nakama lead to somewhere, there may be no free spot at all.

LOL damn. Sounds pretty accurate. This is one of the only theories where I talk about similarities.

[desa]

@bluntzilla:

The only definitive pattern that indicates if a character will be a Strawhat is if they join the Strawhats.Oh wait. I forgot about Vivi. So uh, yeah. Patterns are useless.

If they are already strawhats they cannot be count among those that will become a strawhats. And Vivi promised to join when she can which probably won't happen.

[doppleganger]

How about a murderer, that's always in an animal costume, and wields a knife. He could be deranged, and actually believe he ate a zoan devil fruit. So if he fell in the water, he would behave as if he was a hammer :D The picture is from Venture Brothers btw :)

[sinreturns]

@desa:

If they are already strawhats they cannot be count among those that will become a strawhats. And Vivi promised to join when she can which probably won't happen.

No, She never made such a promise.

CH 216 pg 13, 14, 15 She basically said that even tho she isn't coming with the crew if they ever meet again will they still consider her as a friend. That isn't the same as promising to join when she can.

[mosby]

Jinbei! Jinbei will appear in Big Mom arc and Luffy will steal him from Big Mom.

Match-ups.
1. Luffy vs Akainu
2. Zoro vs Fujitora
3. Sanji vs Kizaru
4. Jinbei vs Green Bull

[JDub]

Of couse, page 420 would involve one of the more flawed, out-there theories.

[The Spaceman]

Jimbe - Brawler
Kine - Swordsman
Momo - Weakling
Viola - feemale

I think sin's right, guys. These are definitely the next four nakamamas and they fit the patern and the patternn fits them. Makes too much sense to be ignored.

[King of Calzones]

As much as I'd love to see a new crewmember after all this time having the same 9 Straw Hats, I honestly don't see it in the cards just yet. A lot of this arc is focusing on Law and Doflamingo, and for the most part whenever a character joins the crew they usually have a pretty significant role in whatever arc they're a part of. While we could easily get another Robin situation where the next crewmate comes totally out of left field, I feel like so much other stuff has happened in Dressrosa that it would kind of be a little overwhelming.

I do think Jimbei will join eventually though, most likely as the final member to cap off the Straw Hats. I think we'll get at least one more aside from him though. I'm not really sure what occupations would be left but I'm sure Oda would think of something.

[sinreturns]

@The:

Jimbe - Brawler
Kine - Swordsman
Momo - Weakling
Viola - feemale

I think sin's right, guys. These are definitely the next four nakamamas and they fit the patern and the patternn fits them. Makes too much sense to be ignored.

It's technically not a pattern. Correct term would probably be permutation. Permutations often arise when different orderings on certain finite sets are considered, possibly only because one wants to ignore such orderings and needs to know how many configurations are thus identified.

Only thing this theory was meant for was to possibly see what the order of future nakama might be. The titles/labels like Swordsmen/Brawler/Weakling/Female were kept as vague and arbitrary as possible because the theory itself isn't meant for picking specific characters…its more about looking at Oda's reuse of storytelling themes and possibly speculate what type of characters might join.

So you basically look at previous straw hats and compare them to possible candidates. LOL

I myself said that this type of theory isn't an absolute step by step guild to claiming who the next nakama will be, and that story narrative and the manga should be looked at for any major reasoning or predictions. This was mostly for fun and my attempt to predict Oda's writing pattern.

Using the theory If I were to say who has the best chance to join..this is what I would suggest.
Jinbe joins as the 9th person
Female character joins as the 10th person..currently I don't know who.

Now If there will be more members joining...Assuming Luffy doesn't just stop recruiting after meeting his "at least 10" quota....then

11th could possibly be Kinemon
If Luffy continues
Last member could possibly be Momo.

I have my doubts about Momo...he has a LONG way to go if he wants to become anything other than a liability.

All people who might join need an overarching goal that allows them to travel with Luffy.
Should have something to contribute...either something that is Luffy related(musician-Brook), which could literally be anything...or something that is directly related to a position on a pirate ship. All primary essential positions are already filled so other than secondary positions nothing is really needed. Sure the crew could get a tailor(kinemon), helmsmen/life guard(Jinbe), lookout, cabin boy..etc but that depends on the story narrative.

[King of Calzones]

I'd be totally fine with either Kinemon or Momonosuke joining (Momo could be a cabin boy and Kinemon could be their tailor!), but I think it's too soon to really say what'll happen to them. Once the inevitable Wano arc starts up I think we'll be able to get a better idea of whether they'd be good Straw Hat material or if they're just another Vivi situation.

Plus, we still need to meet Kanjuro. We still don't know what he's like and what kind of motivations he has regarding his mission.

[Kishido]

I think someone with legs join. Think about it… So far each SH has legs.