Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World)

electricmastro

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

I think we are meant to take the toast as something that happened off-screen during the big celebration, unfortunately.

The toasts are a tradition, but Oda has broken tradition in the past ("The Nth" chapter titles, for instance). We know that Luffy stated they'd give Jinbe his toast during the big celebration. And nothing in the event that we saw could have changed those plans. From the SH's perspective, they had the whole night to get together and celebrate Jinbe's joining.

It would be strange if it didn't happen and then happens now, without any remarkable event to justify it.

I almost can’t help but feel Oda did all of this on purpose to specifically give off the feeling that Wano has unfinished business, and not just with the volcano and Pluton either, and encourages people to keep thinking and talking about it even though and the others have left Wano by now.

Deicide

@electricmastro
This is possible.

But at the same time, even if Wano is not done, this section of Wano should feel as done. I don't see a lot of chances to do Jinbe's toast now that don't feel out of place, for example.

Like, the best chance for the next toast is at the end of next arc. But, by then, Jinbe will have been with the crew so long that an welcome for him would just feel out of place.

SeaOfHope

@Deicide It's just formality sake. If anything, a lot of things recently have felt out of place.

electricmastro

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@electricmastro
This is possible.

But at the same time, even if Wano is not done, this section of Wano should feel as done. I don't see a lot of chances to do Jinbe's toast now that don't feel out of place, for example.

Like, the best chance for the next toast is at the end of next arc. But, by then, Jinbe will have been with the crew so long that an welcome for him would just feel out of place.

I get the understanding that Chapters 1050-1057 were mainly dedicated to Momo, even if it meant giving other things less focus regardless of how much they would have deserved it otherwise, with the possible idea that forwarding Momo’s story as shogun is the only/best way Oda feels he can forward other stories, namely Yamato’s relationship with Momo before Yamato decides to finally sail out.

It can be easy to blame Momo as the reason why things were skipped over or why we didn’t get enough attention for certain things, but one thing I’m sure that has been clear to readers at large is how relevant of a character Momo is as far as Wano’s new leadership goes. And that Oda banking on this idea for as much as he has prob isn’t meant to be seen as an obstacle in the way of whatever thing we want to see, but as a catalyst for other things to progress somehow.

theackwardstation

Chapter 977 is funny because there's a curious ambiguity. Let's look closer at it:

First, Luffy says: "Let's raise a toast to Jimbe joining the...", but he's interrupted by Kinnemon, and gives up on the toast ("forget it!")...
And then Luffy says: "Let's do it with them! the party! the toast! everything! Hee hee hee! Once we beat Kaido, I mean! And Orochi and Big Mom and everyone!! Let's win this fight and and then we'll have the biggest party yet!!".

Therefore, the promise made at chapter 977 is the toast that happened in chapter 1053, I have no doubt about that. Luffy never said "let's do this toast for Jimbe later", but instead the most literal interpretation of chapter 977 is that Luffy changed the subject of the toast on the spot, and so made a promise for a bigger and broader toast with everyone else.

The question is: what about Jimbe then? Will we get another toast for Jimbe anyway?

Maybe, perhaps, because it was in poor taste for Oda to have excluded exactly Jimbe of all people from the toast that happened later, all things considered. But that's not the end of the world to me either, like a super huge weird misstep on Oda's part that shows the series is falling apart, but more like something we misunderstood and anticipated because it'd be very nice (and I know that it became an argument for the theories about Carrot or Yamato joining, so a lot of extra expectations were put into this toast). I only remember Chopper getting a personal toast for joining like that, so it's not like a standard ritual in the series... but it'd very welcome if it happened now.

danie

I think Oda is past the toast for Jinbe. It looks like he is more interested in covering what happened with Cross Guild, Sabo, etc.

electricmastro

@danie said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

I think Oda is past the toast for Jinbe. It looks like he is more interested in covering what happened with Cross Guild, Sabo, etc.

The fact that he put in “Emperor Luffy and his 9 Commanders” seems to have solidified Jinbe as part of the crew already if it wasn’t before.

Deicide

Jinbe is already the character with the most complicated joining.

I mean, he bonded with Luffy in Impel Down, Marineford and Post-War.
Was invited in Fishman Island.
"Joined" in WCI but got separated.
And finally reunited on the way to Onigashima.

Chapter 977 is meant to be his official joining. From that point on, even without a proper toast, he was finally aknowledged as a full-fledged member in everything, from color spreads to volume presentation and now Film Red.

Zin Magala

I feel like the toast has already happened. Maybe Oda has something more grand plan for when the last SH joins to make up for Jinbei's being off panel. Highly doubt it wasn't shown because we are getting a new SH in the next chapter or two.

The whole end of Wano felt like it was shorten so we can get the ball rolling on what's next.

Deicide

@Zin-Magala
My thoughts exactly.

Hakase

Again I don't believe in the toast either but it's a misstep. It's just getting tiring when Oda dangles the carrot in front of you and then doesn't pay it off/deliver. It's the type of thing that will just lead to well xyz never were off either hence bad writing is just the new argument in fashion for everything. And this isn't even a case of something vague like zoro's connection to Wano. This was explicitly delaying the toast "to Jinbe joining the crew", so yes Oda skipping on having Jinbe in that toast spread to me is just honestly awful. It's exactly the type of thing that damages my trust in the story and makes me less certain of other things being paid of satisfyingly. Like the more shit like this happens the less of a leg I have to stand on when actually trying to argue based on Oda being a good storyteller. Like do shit like this enough time and suddenly actually idiotic stuff like Oda reviving Oden for real type arguments aren't stupid anymore but somehow feasible.

It also just makes me immensely distrustful of expecting anything out of statements in the series. When follow through just keeps not happening what guarantee is there for anything in the story.

SeaOfHope

Eh, I'm still hopeful. They just left Wano and they capped the arc's conclusion with jumping off a waterfall. I'm willing to think they'll have a toast, at least when Luffy gets out of his cage. For Jinbe and maybe their increases bounties.

electricmastro

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

Jinbe is already the character with the most complicated joining.

I mean, he bonded with Luffy in Impel Down, Marineford and Post-War.
Was invited in Fishman Island.
"Joined" in WCI but got separated.
And finally reunited on the way to Onigashima.

Chapter 977 is meant to be his official joining. From that point on, even without a proper toast, he was finally aknowledged as a full-fledged member in everything, from color spreads to volume presentation and now Film Red.

I disagree, because Luffy saying "I am your captain." pretty much solidified that, assuming a toast really isn't necessary.

electricmastro

@Zin-Magala said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

I feel like the toast has already happened. Maybe Oda has something more grand plan for when the last SH joins to make up for Jinbei's being off panel. Highly doubt it wasn't shown because we are getting a new SH in the next chapter or two.

The whole end of Wano felt like it was shorten so we can get the ball rolling on what's next.

Not in the next chapter or two, but the fact that even in Chapter 1057 has Luffy telling Yamato he'd drop anything he was doing to come back for her if she ever decided to be a pirate with him is prob not meant to close the door on Yamato as much as some on this forum may think.

There's madness going on with Oda in how Chapter 1057 played out, for sure, but even madness can have a method to it.

Deicide

@electricmastro
If we are to get technical, Jinbe joined when he announced it to Big Mom in the tea party.

But he only started to count as a crewmate after his return in chapters 976/977. That's when he started being acknowledged in volume casting calls or color spreads.

Zin Magala

@electricmastro

Any chance of that happening would be after Sphinx, if that is next, so I still don't think Oda is holding off Jinbei's toast until then. At that point I would expect a tiny flashback of Luffy remembering his words from Chapter 1 and a double spread of the entire crew celebrating.

Ivotas

@SeaOfHope said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

Eh, I'm still hopeful. They just left Wano and they capped the arc's conclusion with jumping off a waterfall. I'm willing to think they'll have a toast, at least when Luffy gets out of his cage. For Jinbe and maybe their increases bounties.

Hopeful? I pretty much fully expect the toast in the next chapter we return to the Strawhats and they start focusing on the next destination.

electricmastro

@Zin-Magala said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@electricmastro

Any chance of that happening would be after Sphinx, if that is next, so I still don't think Oda is holding off Jinbei's toast until then. At that point I would expect a tiny flashback of Luffy remembering his words from Chapter 1 and a double spread of the entire crew celebrating.

All this and Oda choosing to hide that conversation she had with Luffy and the others just before Chapter 1057 is telling to me there's some secret about Yamato that's not meant to be completely revealed yet. If Oda really intended to have us forget about Yamato, then he would have dropped her out of the story much earlier, and that "wasting our time" or "Oda changing his mind" can only be said so much her to excuse all that away.

Zin Magala

I think it’s Oda’s intention for you to forget about Yamato for now, regardless if she joining or not.

Shift

@SeaOfHope said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

With Brook joining:

The Straw Hat toasts only really started being a tradition with Chopper joining and Robin didn't even get hers till she got it shared with Usopp also rejoining and with Franky. So there's no real set order of when and how it happens, but I do think Jinbe will get a toast. Right now, Luffy's in a cage, so we'll see how that works out if it does actually happen.

That Brook toast is especially telling: they had a party already where he joined and they celebrated it, but they had a proper toast on the ship. Jinbe is definitely getting one before the next island, and I'm quite sure that will be Carrot's best chance to join.

Shift

@electricmastro said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

is prob not meant to close the door on Yamato as much as some on this forum may think.

I'm going to say no more snide remarks about how people don't believe what you believe. You can vouch for who you want, but you have to be respectful too.

Zin Magala

I can see them attempting to give Jinbe a toast just to have it delayed by Caribou being on the ship. lol

electricmastro

@Shift said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@electricmastro said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

is prob not meant to close the door on Yamato as much as some on this forum may think.

I'm going to say no more snide remarks about how people don't believe what you believe. You can vouch for who you want, but you have to be respectful too.

Ah, apologies if it came off as snide. Was just talking in general about being open-minded so long as threads like this exist and people are able to speculate on it, not being helped by people accusing me of "coping" and such. I don't have any problem with people not believing what I believe in the end though.

electricmastro

@Zin-Magala said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

I think it’s Oda’s intention for you to forget about Yamato for now, regardless if she joining or not.

Well, maybe not forget, but still have her lingering in peoples' minds. One thought I've had is that depending on how privy Kaido was about the ancient weapons and depending on how much he knows about Shirahoshi, I suppose it's possible he was treating Yamato as a means to gain access to greater power.

SeaOfHope

@Zin-Magala said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

I can see them attempting to give Jinbe a toast just to have it delayed by Caribou being on the ship. lol

That is, funnily enough, also a possibility.

Zin Magala

I don’t think Kaido knew about Pluton being in Wano, otherwise he would have destroyed the border wall. As for Yamato, he wanted her to keep Wano in check and under his rule. I don’t believe he thought of her anymore than a tool to be used.

Ivotas

@Shift said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@SeaOfHope said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

With Brook joining:

The Straw Hat toasts only really started being a tradition with Chopper joining and Robin didn't even get hers till she got it shared with Usopp also rejoining and with Franky. So there's no real set order of when and how it happens, but I do think Jinbe will get a toast. Right now, Luffy's in a cage, so we'll see how that works out if it does actually happen.

That Brook toast is especially telling: they had a party already where he joined and they celebrated it, but they had a proper toast on the ship. Jinbe is definitely getting one before the next island, and I'm quite sure that will be Carrot's best chance to join.

They also had a big party and Water Seven but had the toast afterwards after escaping Garp.

Also since you bring up Carrot. Just to keep this discussion up a little longer, if she really turns out to be stowed away on the ship, then they Strawhats would be obliged to have a toast in the first place, because up to this point Carrot hasn't been ever discussed to join the crew.

But be that as it may, Carrot or not, you have the true welcome toast on board the ship (be it Merry or Sunny). That's the Strawhat Pirates home.

Shift

@electricmastro That's true too, no one should be accusing anyone here of coping for believing in who they think will join. So to everyone, you don't have to agree anyone is joining, but you do need to respect the people talking here.

King Cannon

@Shift The toasts also serve to close the arc though (check all toast chapters and you'll notice they come after the arc's epilogue). The issue is that we're already in the next arc, so a toast would be out of place right now.

By chapter 1060, we should be already in the next island.

Deicide

Theoretically, we could have a short arc ahead and that could provide a chance for a toast, but something tells me the crew will have some urgent matters to check when leaving that arc.

Zin Magala

@SeaOfHope I mean, someone has to lead the SHs to Hachinosu.

Ivotas

@King-Cannon said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@Shift The toasts also serve to close the arc though (check all toast chapters and you'll notice they come after the arc's epilogue). The issue is that we're already in the next arc, so a toast would be out of place right now.

By chapter 1060, we should be already in the next island.

The moment where one arc stops and the other one starts have always been flexible and up to the readers interpretation. For example some people think that Arabasta concluded and Jaya began, the moment the Strawhats said goodbye to Vivi, some think it's with the successful escape from Hina and re-introduction of Robin, some say Jaya started when the ship fell from the Sky and some say Jaya started when it was clear they would have to Jaya first before they can make it to Sky Island.

What I'm trying to say here is that depending where you stand, we are not necessarily in the next arc yet. I personally consider the moment the crew to receive new bounties to be a moment in the middle of two arcs respectively sagas. But that's just me.

Also, even if we'd say that the start/end of an arc is always crystal clear, Oda just needs to pull yet another switcheroo, as he's pulled so many this arc already, have Luffy say "before we proceed any further, let's welcome Jinbei on the ship" and suddenly we'd have our first toast at the beginning of a new arc. Which I don't even understand would be a big taboo to break in the first place. If we'd already be facing the first obstacles of the new arc, then I agree it would feel at bit out of place. But as long as everyone is still sailing peacefully, it's just as good a time to have a toast. Rather than saying goodbye to the old arc it would be welcoming the new one.

King Cannon

@Ivotas The thing is that Wano has a very definite cutoff point, that no other arc has.

So we are in the next arc for all intents and purposes. The pattern is that once we're done with the "around the world", we will return to the SH nearing the next island already while avoiding some big obstacle at sea.

That's how it happened at Dressrosa and Whole Cake for example. SH react to bounties -> Around the world -> Next arc.

electricmastro

@Zin-Magala said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

I don’t think Kaido knew about Pluton being in Wano, otherwise he would have destroyed the border wall. As for Yamato, he wanted her to keep Wano in check and under his rule. I don’t believe he thought of her anymore than a tool to be used.

I know he wanted to get the ancient weapons and talked about Wano being special. This along with him having been with a researcher like Rocks gives a good chance he did know about it in some way, even if he didn't outright say it.

Depending on how privy Kaido got about the weapons, it wouldn't surprise me too much if Kaido was attempting to use Yamato as a means to control Pluton somehow, similar to Shirahoshi. It would also put what Higurashi said into more perspective too, since she said this around the time of Yamato's birth.

alt text

@King-Cannon said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@Ivotas The thing is that Wano has a very definite cutoff point, that no other arc has.

So we are in the next arc for all intents and purposes. The pattern is that once we're done with the "around the world", we will return to the SH nearing the next island already while avoiding some big obstacle at sea.

That's how it happened at Dressrosa and Whole Cake for example. SH react to bounties -> Around the world -> Next arc.

Well Luffy definitely has more cause to go back to Wano than other places like Dressrosa or Whole Cake, especially depending on who Caribou works for and what his boss is capable of.

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

Theoretically, we could have a short arc ahead and that could provide a chance for a toast, but something tells me the crew will have some urgent matters to check when leaving that arc.

Assuming the Straw Hats are going to Sphinx, I'm sure it could allow for more flexibility for more things to play out elsewhere, in addition to Luffy being able to go back to anyone in case he's not particularly busy where he is at the moment. Might be set up for him to meet up with Sabo and Vivi in the next 10 chapters really.

Zin Magala

@electricmastro

Unless an Oni is required to pilot Pluton, I don't see how it's connected to Yamato. At least by the information the manga has provided. That's a rabbit hole I'm going to need more details before I go down it. I don't think the requirements are going too strict because I believe the opening shot to kick off the final war is Blackbeard coming for Pluton and Van Augur destroying the SHs flag.

Back to the Jinbe toast, we also need to consider that story beats may not play out the same way as they did in the past. If Oda is rushing towards the final war, he might prioritize certain beats over others to get to wherever he needs to go. We could get the 11th SH and not get a toast until the arc before it's final war time.

I think the next three arcs are going to be on the short side, all building towards the final war. I wouldn't be surprised if Oda waited until the dust settles and the SHs can catch their breath and prepare for what's to come.

Ivotas

@King-Cannon
That's a very good point you make. Forgot about that. But if anything that's all the more reason to not take the "it has to happen at the end of an arc" as gospel.

Wano's clear cut off point might just aswell be a reason for Oda to have a "welcome aboard" scene play out in the introductory part of the new arc exactly, because it wouldn't have mashed well with Wano's unique structure. I'm just saying that if we argue that Wano is unique by having an usual structure for One Piece, then we should be open minded that a "welcome aboard" scene might also be placed at an spot a little later than usual.

electricmastro

@Zin-Magala said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@electricmastro

Unless an Oni is required to pilot Pluton, I don't see how it's connected to Yamato.

Actually, maybe it might not be that far off. Seeing as how Poseidon is the name for the "Mermaid Princess" belonging to the Ryugu Kingdom's royal bloodline, it might not be so far-fetched to suggest all the weapons are linked to royalty. Yamato has been called "Oni Princess" and Kaido was from a kingdom and is now called "King of the Beasts," in addition to "Yamato" being the name of a real-life battleship and Kaido's comment about Yamato being a good addition to his military strength.

Thinking back, between Yamato saying she'd sail with the Straw Hats and saying she'd stay, there was the Pluton reveal in the middle, not just the confrontation with Aramaki. It could be easy to say that Aramaki is the reason Yamato is staying, but after the comment of Oden saying he was trying to open Wano to unleash Pluton, it makes me wonder if Yamato was told about that off-panel, which led into her reasoning for staying.

SeaOfHope

Not to put you in hot water @Deicide, but in regards to Hancock, don't you believe she is also too powerful to join the crew? I am aware we haven't seen many combat feats from Hancock outside of her attack against an antagonist in a non-canon film, but it can be surmised from context in the story that Hancock is very powerful.

One of the arguments that I and many others had against Yamato was that she would systematically break the dynamic of the Monster Trio. Hancock, having all 3 forms of Haki and mastery of a hax Devil Fruit, seems like the type of character to usurp Sanji and potentially Zoro in terms of strength and break the power balance that is held. Since I've had my criticisms of Yamato for those very reasons and potentially some you highlighted yourself, what's your stance on this? I wouldn't want to overlook double standards just because I prefer a character like Hancock over Yamato.

Deicide

@SeaOfHope
I think at this point her power is no longer overwhelming. The enemies we will face ahead all have ways to deal with her DF abilities, and her strength, I believe, is near Zoro's or Sanji's.

I feel Zoro and Sanji will remain "the wings of the Pirate King" no matter who joins. Jinbe's bounty is a gag to make readers second-guess themselves, but when it came to action, Zoro and Sanji took down commanders while Jinbe (easily) dispatched an officer, and that's how I think things with remain should Hancock join.

I don't think Hancock will get a feat like Yamato's (fighting an Emperor 1v1) before her joining either. If she joins, I think she will keep trailing near Zoro and Sanji in terms of feats.

Zin Magala

@electricmastro Yamato isn’t a princess in a royalty sense, but in a boss’s daughter sense. Flunkies in any gang call the leader’s daughter princess.

On the subject of power for the last crew member, I don’t think it will be an issue. The more I think about Elbaf, the more I think it will be final upgrade time. Especially if they combine it with Vegapunk stuff. That would solve any power issues when comes to 11th.

danie

@SeaOfHope I think Hancock joining the crew is non-sense but how is she too strong for the crew but Jinbe isn't?

I remember people saying Jinbe couldn't join because he would intrude on the "monster trio". I'm not even sure what people mean by that but they have curiously shut-up about it.

I wonder if Roger and his crew were the protagonists, people would object to Oden joining.
"Oh no! A guy stronger than Rayleigh and that other guy is joining!"

SeaOfHope

@danie said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@SeaOfHope I think Hancock joining the crew is non-sense but how is she too strong for the crew but Jinbe isn't?

I remember people saying Jinbe couldn't join because he would intrude on the "monster trio". I'm not even sure what people mean by that but they have curiously shut-up about it. Weird.

As I said, she has all 3 haki with presumed mastery since we know Marigold has at least advanced Armament Haki with a Devil Fruit that is insanely hax that can basically one shot you unless you combat it potentially with your own Haki and we are left in the dark if she Awakened her Devil Fruit, though it can be assumed she does due to the nature of her abilities and strength that's been mentioned in the series, especially from someone like Sengoku. The simple fact she even has Conqueror's Haki brings up her strength considerably, especially if she has mastery over it.

Left Marineford unscathed despite the numerous powerful adversaries and was prepared to take out Kuzan after he stabbed Luffy (though that can just be chalked up to her personality and love stricken tendencies). Oda has been pretty deliberate in hiding how strong Hancock truly is, even reminding us when the Marines came to attack her island that the reason she has her position is that she is strong. If the only hint we get from her power is from a non-canon movie where her base physical prowess is the only attack that initially damages a durable character in his upgraded form that Gear 4 Luffy had issues damaging, I believe that's fairly telling.

With Jinbe, we've seen his strengths as well as his limitations numerous times. He is strong enough to take on Vice Admirals, but in the face of an Admiral, he falls a bit short. That can be subject to change though. For the time, his place in the crew had to be withheld to not disturb the power balance held with "Wings of the Pirate King." The same I don't think can be said for Hancock, at least not yet.

EDIT: We have very brief knowledge with Roger's crew, so I don't even know why bother bringing up Oden.

danie

@SeaOfHope Yeah, you can speculate all you want about how strong Hancock is, but i've seen nothing in the manga that suggests to me that she is stronger than Jinbe.

Jinbe falls short in the face of Sakazuki in Marineford but he just wrecked Big Mom in her arc. If that was Zoro or Sanji, the fanboys would never stop talking about it. With Jinbe, people already forgot. Go figure.

We know Rayleigh was Roger's top guy. And in the Oden Flashback, it is alluded to that Scopper was comparable to Rayleigh. Oden joining very likely changed all that. Nobody cared though of course, so I just wonder if people would care if the Roger Pirates were the protagonists.

electricmastro

@Zin-Magala said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@electricmastro Yamato isn’t a princess in a royalty sense, but in a boss’s daughter sense. Flunkies in any gang call the leader’s daughter princess.

On the subject of power for the last crew member, I don’t think it will be an issue. The more I think about Elbaf, the more I think it will be final upgrade time. Especially if they combine it with Vegapunk stuff. That would solve any power issues when comes to 11th.

We’ll have to see how “unroyal” Yamato is by the time Pluton comes up again then.

I agree that it’s not too late for a last member though. Places like Elba will give time.

Deicide

@SeaOfHope
I think her DF is like Law's: OP against fodder, but full of caveats and limitations against strong opponents. Her very first use of it had one weakness showcased (and no, stabbing one's own hand isn't much of a detriment to a high level opponent). It may also already be awakened since it works on objects and beasts.

This is my speculation about her fruit from its weakest attack to strongest:

Mero Mero Mellow can be easily avoided by a fast opponent or rendered useless by a focused one (as long as you can keep your dirty thoughts contained).
Slave Arrow can be dodged
She resorts to petrifying melee attacks against stronger opponents. Armament haki can ward the petrification off.

I wouldn't be surprised if her fruit is weak baseline, but she trained herself to have the best of it (her seduction is not caused by the fruit; it's her ranged precision and melee training that allows her to be effective in combat, and so on).

As for power levels, I think we are nearing a point in the story that actually makes every strong character is close in power level, because they are all near the ceiling.

Remember that Jinbe was holding off Akainu's magma attack with his bare hands back in Marineford, for instance.

That said, Hancock has Conqueror Haki, so she may yet show some impressive feats related to that.

Zin Magala

I'm keeping an open mind about Boa, but I feel her joining the Revolutionaries or Cross Guild makes more sense. They both fit her character well and it requires little effort on Oda's part to make it happen. The major issue that I have is Boa's personality would clash with Nami's, and not in a fun way. I don't see Boa being underneath Nami when it comes to the status quo of the ship. Maybe Oda will tone down Boa but I'm not a big fan of changing a character to simply fit a role. We'll see, Oda could make a believer out of me.

Yamato being an actual princess is the last thing you want if you're still hoping she joins the crew.

SeaOfHope

@danie said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@SeaOfHope Yeah, you can speculate all you want about how stong Hancock is, but i've seen nothing in the manga that suggests to me she is stonger than Jinbe.

Jinbe falls short in the face of Sakazuki in Marineford but he just wrecked Big Mom in her arc. If that was Zoro or Sanji, the fanboys would never stop talking about it. With Jinbe, people already forgot. Go figure.

We know Rayleigh was Roger's top guy. And in the Oden Flashback, it is alluded to that Scopper was comparable to Rayleigh. Oden joining very likely changed all that. Nobody cared though of course, so I just wonder if people would care is the Roger Pirates were the protaganists.

Jinbe didn't wreck Big Mom. He confronted an emaciated version of Big Mom that wasn't mentally sound and the best he could do was to use his signature attack to push her away after unsuccessfully blocking her attack which didn’t even incapacitate her. So no, don't think so about Jinbe being comparable to Hancock by that measure alone. I'm not gonna argue with people's attention spans, that isn't the topic.

With Scobber Gaban, the only thing we have is that he contested with Oden during their fight with the Whitebeard Pirates in a non-canon scene. It was also implied Oden before traveling with Roger didn't know how to use Advanced Conqueror's Haki. After he left Roger's crew, he did. So speculation aside, comparing the two situations doesn't seem to work.

@Deicide said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

@SeaOfHope
I think her DF is like Law's: OP against fodder, but full of caveats and limitations against strong opponents. Her very first use of it had one weakness showcased (and no, stabbing one's own hand isn't much of a detriment to a high level opponent). It may also already be awakened since it works on objects and beasts.
This is my speculation about her fruit from its weakest attack to strongest:

Mero Mero Mellow can be easily avoided by a fast opponent or rendered useless by a focused one (as long as you can keep your dirty thoughts contained).

Slave Arrow can be dodged

She resorts to petrifying melee attacks against stronger opponents. Armament haki can ward the petrification off.
I wouldn't be surprised if her fruit is weak baseline, but she trained herself to have the best of it (her seduction is not caused by the fruit; it's her ranged precision and melee training that allows her to be effective in combat, and so on).
As for power levels, I think we are nearing a point in the story that actually makes every strong character is close in power level, because they are all near the ceiling.
That said, Hancock has Conqueror Haki, so she may yet show some impressive feats related to that.

These points I do somewhat agree. As I said, the fact Oda deliberately hides her supposed renown strength is what I'm mainly arguing on. If it's revealed she has power that potentially surpasses or matches the likes of Zoro, then that in of itself can create issues in arguing for her candidacy. That's why I'm just bringing this up for you to be aware.

Shin10 Bukuro

@danie said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

Nobody cared though of course, so I just wonder if people would care if the Roger Pirates were the protagonists.

Many details about the Roger pirates would be cared about differently if they were the protagonists.

Like for instance, not having a clear idea of Roger's fighting style. Or not knowing most of the crew member's names. Details like this only work because we as fans know so little about the Roger Pirates.

electricmastro

@Zin-Magala said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

I'm keeping an open mind about Boa, but I feel her joining the Revolutionaries or Cross Guild makes more sense. They both fit her character well and it requires little effort on Oda's part to make it happen. The major issue that I have is Boa's personality would clash with Nami's, and not in a fun way. I don't see Boa being underneath Nami when it comes to the status quo of the ship. Maybe Oda will tone down Boa but I'm not a big fan of changing a character to simply fit a role. We'll see, Oda could make a believer out of me.

Yamato being an actual princess is the last thing you want if you're still hoping she joins the crew.

I mean, it’s possible Yamato could have been born into royalty, but really isn’t attached to that anymore considering the circumstances. I imagine we’ll see some development sooner rather than later in any case, since she seems set up to go to Laugh Tale, assuming she’s still following Oden’s path at that point.

Deicide

@Zin-Magala said in Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 9 - Yamato vs. The World):

I don't see Boa being underneath Nami when it comes to the status quo of the ship.

I do see them butting heads. I mean, can you imagine Hancock allowing Nami to beat Luffy and put him in a cage?

But I see that as evolving dynamics within the crew. Nami's life could actually become easier if Hancock is there to tank frustrations for her, allowing Nami to focus on mapping, treasury and navigation.

When you think about Hancock's potential talents, it's making people cooperate with her. Even her gags are about that (looking down on others, playing scared cutie, being seductive). That's the best clue into a potential crewmate role ("Quartermaster" or "Staff Officer").