Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 8 - Onigashima)

[Shift]

Take a look back, if you care to:
Vol. 1
Vol. 2
Vol. 3
Vol. 4
Vol. 5
Vol. 6
Vol. 7

With Jinbe finally back among the crew, Luffy has his 9th person at long last! What's ten years between friends, eh?

Now, among the other multiple candidates, we've got the dark horse that is Yamato! How will he/she fare in this race? I imagine we've still got about a year to find out!

No matter who you’re rooting for, whether they be a shoe-in or have a snowball’s chance, you are free to discuss your visions for the destiny of the crew. Who truly knows what the future (and Oda) has in store?

Let’s keep it clean and civil: no flaming, no trolling, no aspersions against each others' moral fiber. Ready…

BEH-BEN!

[ArmamentHero]

Let me be the first to set this off!! I think Yamato is one to seriously watch! Considering the time and place in the story, Oda chose to Dedicate two dramatic introductions to her. Considering her Inherited Will from Oden and Connection to Ace, I can't but pay attention to where this character goes as it's the first time in a long while I've seen such a unique intro!

[Deicide]

Again, no one besides Jinbe will join now, all others are just friends, companions and allies. But Jinbe is not the final Straw Hat, there's one more to go.

In the New World, we will get one nakama per saga (except the final one). This is Yonko Saga, Jinbe's saga. We started the New World with him, he returned in WCI, and now has officially joined in Wano. When the big celebration comes, he will be the only new nakama.

Next saga will be about the Revolutionaries, the Celestial Dragons and the WG. We will see several plot threads returning: Sabo and Vivi, Bonnie and Kuma, St. Mjosgard past, slavery, secrets of the Rocks, Vegapunk, the final Admiral and so on. Enemies will include CP0, the Celestial Dragons the SSG. Who will join there?

I have my bet, but talking about that now is pointless, as no one will agree. Sufice to say it's a long standing female character Luffy owes a great debt to. She hasn't appeared for a long time, but will suddenly have a big importance and nowhere to go.

[Cockycent]

I think Carrot, Tama and Yamato are possible as SH nakama. I also think they can all be retainers for Momo with Shinobu.

Carrot's chances make the most sense so far.

[RobinotX]

I wouldn't be surprised Carrot and Yamato both joined.

Yamato
Currently I need a bit more chapters to see if Yamato is indeed the Oden to Luffy's crew (if he gets one) or are they going to be the one helping out Momo after they got rid of the Animal Kingdom Pirates and Orochi's Army? But that really will be based on how they will develop further.

Carrot
I have seen a lot of reasons in the previous topic of why she wouldn't join. But her inclusion in the Whole Cake Island arc has been quite confusing to me and her having a backstory that is has been in the present wouldn't change much to me. Plus, she can still have something in her past that we don't know. Hell Luffy's background story wasn't that crazy untill we saw more after the war so. It will be very important what kind of fight she will have and what development she will have during the war.

Oh well we will find out :). Currently both contenders are quite interesting! (I only include Yamato and Carrot for now).

I recently have been thinking that the last Admiral could be an interesting contender for fourth and last nakama. As it seems he is a womanizer and both Sanji and Brook were that as well (this is a Shower thought )

[Gizmo]

Oden’s journal is too important of an item in the story to be ignored as a plot device. The entire story shifts depending on whoever finds out about the journal, and then whoever ends up with the journal.

Can’t help but think Blackbeard and co. will end up with the journal at some point.

Depending on what Oden wrote in there, there might not be any need to gather the Road Poneglyphs to find out how to go to Laugh Tale.

[Kurloz]

@Deicide:

I have my bet, but talking about that now is pointless, as no one will agree. Sufice to say it's a long standing female character Luffy owes a great debt to. She hasn't appeared for a long time, but will suddenly have a big importance and nowhere to go.

I too agree that Kokoro is a strong final nakama candidate

[Cockycent]

Depending on what exactly is in the journal, Luffy might not want to know too many specifics or possibly anything at all

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

@Kurloz:

I too agree that Kokoro is a strong final nakama candidate

Dadan>>>person many of the crew don't acknowledge as a mermaid

[Solid]

Two lengthy posts I did for Tama in the last thread

#2411 #6874

What Oda has said regarding the strawhats

"every strawhat can become protagonist." Comickers (1998)''

Odacchi!! Hello! I'm a fresh young 14-year-old girl! I have a question for you, my beloved mentor! You know about yoji-jukugo, those four-character sayings? (You do, right?) What would you use to describe Luffy's pirate crew? Ishindenshin (communion of minds, telepathy)? Junintoiro (different strokes for different folks)? …Oh!!! Is it yakiniku teishoku (yakiniku set meal)??? P.N. Gachapin's Cousin

O: Do I know... yoji-jukugo? Do I know them... DO I KNOW THEM??!! YES!! My favorites are "Snake & Crane", "Shaolin Soccer", and "Black Oolong Tea". Now, if I were to describe the Straw Hat Crew with a yoji-jukugo, I'd say... Zendai mimon (unprecedented, unheard of) would do it. That one came up in Enies Lobby. I hope they'll always be the crew that's breaking the mold.

Would be cool if more people could find some quotes from Oda describing the straw hats!

[Wintermute]

And here I thought the Caribou joke got old. No, Shinobu is now in there too…

[Kurloz]

Anyway I still believe the last nakama will be whoever gets the paw fruit, assuming it passed on at all considering Kuma is in a weird braindead cyborg limbo. Sayonara to anyone who doesn't have it :ninja:

[StrawHatJedi]

A new thread, still Carrot.

[Zhenja]

Seems like people don't learn. :ninja:

[Megadoomer]

I'm still supporting Carrot, or at least I feel like she's got the best chance out of any currently-introduced characters. Yamato seems like a possibility, but from what we've seen, their goals are based entirely around Wano, which doesn't seem like a good sign given that the same idea can be said for Vivi (save Alabasta), Momo (save Wano), Wiper (reclaim Upper Yard), Rebecca (save Dressrosa), etc. It doesn't seem similar to the goals that the rest of the Straw Hats have.

Maybe that will change once it's revealed that the Scabbards are alive, or maybe it will be expanded upon by the end of the arc. I just feel like it's too early to act like Yamato's a sure thing.

As for Carrot, I just figure that she meshes well with the crew, I've wanted to see a woman on the crew who'd take part in Luffy/Usopp/Chopper's antics rather than staying out of them like Nami and Robin do, and her inclusion in Whole Cake Island seemed weird to me from a writing standpoint. (she's not there to motivate the Straw Hats to go somewhere like Vivi, Momo, Law, Kinemon, etc., and she's not there to provide exposition like Hatchi, Johnny and Yosaku, Pedro, etc., so it raises the question of why Oda has her traveling with the Straw Hats so consistently)

She still needs more focus (though Perospero arriving at Onigashima could provide that), but at the very least, I figure she's more likely than the rest of the characters that we've seen.

[Deicide]

@Megadoomer:

She still needs more focus (though Perospero arriving at Onigashima could provide that), but at the very least, I figure she's more likely than the characters that we've seen.

IMO, her purpose was: first, so one mink would be there to witness Pedro's death and, second, to showcase the minks' abilities, especially sulong, which will be important in the coming battle.

Once those purposes were fulfilled, she quietly retreated to the background. However, there's still one more purpose for her, which is to see Pedro avenged. If she will be the one to do so, or if she will just be a witness, remains to be seen.

[theackwardstation]

Yamato: there's a lot going on about her and I enjoy all those concepts… but at the same time I think everything was revealed too fast like checking boxes. I wish her introduction had a little more room to breath. That said, Yamato is awesome and it'll probably get better.

Unfortunately, I still don't see clues for next nakama other than the character itself being interesting. It could happen though.

Yamato makes me think of those "familial themes" that have been going on with the Yonkous in which their sons/daughters follow their own path instead of inhiritting their parents' will and legacy. Big Mom's children are more obedient in general, but we witnessed how they tend to choose their loved ones over Mama when given the chance. I guess Yamato will have the same importance as Katakuri going further, both of them being future allies of Luffy and probably prominent figures in the world.

And there's this Oden thing going on with her that I have no idea how it'll tie down with the scabbards and the Kouzuki.

Carrot: she's my candidate for next crewmate, although I'm far from 100% sure of it. Don't feel like repeating myself about the reasons.

Tama: there are some suspicious things about her in the narrative which could lead her to joining the Strawhats, but nothing about her characterization, powers and participation makes me think so right now. Also, she's a little child. If there's any time travelling shenanigans or age manipulation with her to make her older, then I'm completely onboard the train.

[JDub]

@Gizmo:

Oden’s journal is too important of an item in the story to be ignored as a plot device. The entire story shifts depending on whoever finds out about the journal, and then whoever ends up with the journal.

Can’t help but think Blackbeard and co. will end up with the journal at some point.

Depending on what Oden wrote in there, there might not be any need to gather the Road Poneglyphs to find out how to go to Laugh Tale.

the official translation literally says very important things and that shit made me laugh. there is almost certainly information about getting to Laugh Tale in that book.

which then would add to Yamato’s case probably, because he has an intimate knowledge of the text and would serve as the crew’s guide to Laugh Tale.

[Solid]

@theackwardstation:

Tama: there are some suspicious things about her in the narrative which could lead her to joining the Strawhats, but nothing about her characterization, powers and participation makes me think so right now. Also, she's a kid. If there's any time travelling shenanigans or age manipulation with her to make her older, then I'm completely onboard the train.

Her characterisation is her biggest strength imo, it could easily be on par with any straw hat and it far outshines the other candidates in both her own character and the role she would play in the group. The only thing that is missing, and by quite a lot, is her combat abilities, but the arc isn't over.

[Gizmo]

@JDub:

the official translation literally says very important things and that shit made me laugh. there is almost certainly information about getting to Laugh Tale in that book.

which then would add to Yamato’s case probably, because he has an intimate knowledge of the text and would serve as the crew’s guide to Laugh Tale.

Luffy wouldn’t want spoilers, which is why I don’t think they’d use it (plus it would make their search for the Road Poneglpyhs meaningless)

I would assume any other individual would want it, Emperors or Supernova or the WG or literally anyone else. If word got out, whoever has it would have an X on their back.

[Claudio]

Yamato was disappointing; looks too much like Nami and is inspired too much by Oden so no thanks.

[fapfapfap]

@RobinotX:

I wouldn't be surprised Carrot and Yamato both joined.

Yamato
Currently I need a bit more chapters to see if Yamato is indeed the Oden to Luffy's crew (if he gets one) or are they going to be the one helping out Momo after they got rid of the Animal Kingdom Pirates and Orochi's Army? But that really will be based on how they will develop further.

Carrot
I have seen a lot of reasons in the previous topic of why she wouldn't join. But her inclusion in the Whole Cake Island arc has been quite confusing to me and her having a backstory that is has been in the present wouldn't change much to me. Plus, she can still have something in her past that we don't know. Hell Luffy's background story wasn't that crazy untill we saw more after the war so. It will be very important what kind of fight she will have and what development she will have during the war.

Oh well we will find out :). Currently both contenders are quite interesting! (I only include Yamato and Carrot for now).

I recently have been thinking that the last Admiral could be an interesting contender for fourth and last nakama. As it seems he is a womanizer and both Sanji and Brook were that as well (this is a Shower thought )

I'm in this camp. I think Carrot and maybe Yamato will join.

What's important imo is that their fighting styles are very different from anything we have in the crew right now. Carrot is a very speedy brawler with an emphasis on aerial combat compared to Jinbe who's more of a heavy/tank that specializes in underwater combst., with Sanji being somewhere in-between kind of like a beefy Red Mage. Zoro uses a katana for hack n slash attacks while Brook uses a fencing sword to pierce opponents. However we don't have a melee weapon fighter with a blunt weapon…. yet. Then Yamato just happened to show up now.

I think Jinbe, Carrot, and Yamato joining in the New World would form some kind of recurring theme:. Fisher Tiger/Otohime's Will ---> Jinbe, Pedro's Will ---> Carrot, Oden's Will ---> Yamato

[Kurloz]

I guess I'm in the minority but I'm seeing all these people on different forums saying Yamato "inherited" Oden's will in the same vein as Luffy/Ace, Chopper/Hiluluk, Franky/Tom. etc. I think that does a disservice to the latter relationships since, as far as we can tell Yamato just thought Oden was cool and never even interacted with the guy. When compared to every other relationship crewmembers have with their respective family/mentor figures it's incredibly shallow. It's like saying pre-Dressrosa Barto had "inherited Luffy's will"

[BlueOGRE]

you're not the only one Kurloz

[JDub]

@Gizmo:

Luffy wouldn’t want spoilers, which is why I don’t think they’d use it (plus it would make their search for the Road Poneglpyhs meaningless)

I would assume any other individual would want it, Emperors or Supernova or the WG or literally anyone else. If word got out, whoever has it would have an X on their back.

i know Luffy doesn't want spoilers for what the One Piece/if it really exists, but i don't think he'd be opposed to using Oden's log book for how to get to Laugh Tale in the first place. like technically the Straw Hats finding out about the Road Ponegliff's on Zou and not Lode Star is a spoiler, and Luffy didn't seem to mind then.

[Monquito]

@Solid:

https://twitter.com/ochimusha108/sta…236189184?s=21

Greg about Jinbeis color, I know monquito will at least find this interesting, colors seems to be his fav subject

But Greg's speaking of image/scenario.

my color theory's basis is that these colors;

|

• Monkey D. Luffy: Red
• Roronoa Zoro: Green
• Nami: Orange
• Usopp: Yellow
• Sanji: Blue
• Nefertari Vivi: White; Gold[21]

|

• Tony Tony Chopper: Pink
• Nico Robin: Violet/Purple
• Franky: Light blue
• Brook: Black and White

|

Are given according to personality traits, and the Japanese do believe colors are strongly tied to personality.
for which I still believe Jinbe is getting brown ​in any of the upcoming SBS's.

[Cockycent]

If colors and animals can be changed as the story progresses, they don't seem that relevant

[Monquito]

@Cockycent:

If colors and animals can be changed as the story progresses, they don't seem that relevant

their SBS colors have never ​been changed.

[Deicide]

Next chapter (in two weeks) has a color spread, so we have a chance of seeing Jinbe's official color there somehow.

[BobLoblaw]

@JDub:

the official translation literally says very important things and that shit made me laugh. there is almost certainly information about getting to Laugh Tale in that book.

which then would add to Yamato’s case probably, because he has an intimate knowledge of the text and would serve as the crew’s guide to Laugh Tale.

I realize that this is purely speculation on your part, but as a reader, I'd feel just as robbed hearing anything about Laugh Tale from Yamato as Luffy would've felt hearing it from Rayleigh. We know the road poneglyphs are needed to help locate it. The SHs themselves need to figure out the rest.
@Kurloz:

Anyway I still believe the last nakama will be whoever gets the paw fruit, assuming it passed on at all considering Kuma is in a weird braindead cyborg limbo. Sayonara to anyone who doesn't have it :ninja:

The paw fruit is a hack/plot fruit just like Perona's, Hancock's, Viola's, Sugar's, etc. Being able to launch your opponent to another island hundreds of miles away is an instant "I win" power that the SHs don't enjoy.

[Deicide]

I wonder who the people who vote "Other" or "a Supernova/a Red Scabbard" expect to join.

I've hinted mine. What about others' bets?

[Shiebs]

@Deicide:

I wonder who the people who vote "Other" or "a Supernova/a Red Scabbard" expect to join.

I've hinted mine. What about others' bets?

Who I want: Sir Crocodile

Who I actually think will join: Some character we’ve yet to see, or possibly Vegapunk or maybe Kuma’s consciousness in a new body (probably not though)

[Deicide]

@Shiebs:

Who I want: Sir Crocodile

Who I actually think will join: Some character we’ve yet to see, or possibly Vegapunk or maybe Kuma’s consciousness in a new body (probably not though)

I'm pretty sure Croc will return in next saga. His story seems linked to the Revolutionaries somehow. I don't expect him to be a big villain, more like a grey presence in the story. He may even be the character that teaches Luffy and Chopper about awakening DFs, acting as some sort of evil mentor. But joining? I doubt it, thought wouldn't mind him as some sort of ally.

I think Vegapunk will become an ally of the revolutionaries. As for Kuma… Well, that one we need to wait and see Bonnie's story.

[Triceron]

@JDub:

the official translation literally says very important things and that shit made me laugh. there is almost certainly information about getting to Laugh Tale in that book.

which then would add to Yamato’s case probably, because he has an intimate knowledge of the text and would serve as the crew’s guide to Laugh Tale.

Considering the last 5 years of his life were spent dancing naked in the streets, I wouldn't be surprised if it was filled with how he improved his wacky dancing each day.

[Gecko Moria]

Carrot is 10, but Yamato could be 11. Vivi will rejoin as the last member I’m pretty sure.

[Cyan D. Funk]

Yamato has been more intriguing in ten pages than Carrot has the entire five years we've known her.

Also he actually had a conversation with Luffy.

@Shiebs:

Who I want: Sir Crocodile

Croco-boy is still one of the very few villains that Luffy a) remembers clearly and b) actively hates so udner what circumstances would this work?

[fapfapfap]

@Deicide:

I'm pretty sure Croc will return in next saga. His story seems linked to the Revolutionaries somehow. I don't expect him to be a big villain, more like a grey presence in the story. He may even be the character that teaches Luffy and Chopper about awakening DFs, acting as some sort of evil mentor. But joining? I doubt it, thought wouldn't mind him as some sort of ally.

I think Vegapunk will become an ally of the revolutionaries. As for Kuma… Well, that one we need to wait and see Bonnie's story.

I can't see another Shichibukai or Supernova joining the crew. Sometimes I see people mention how convenient it is that Bonney doesn't seem to have a crew anymore but even then I can't see her joining. She's 100% reliant on her overpowered DF to turn people into babies/old people and hasn't demonstrated much else in terms of combat. People already complain about how Robin doesn't get enough fights with Bonney it'd be 1000% worse if she joined.

@BobLoblaw:

The paw fruit is a hack/plot fruit just like Perona's, Hancock's, Viola's, Sugar's, etc. Being able to launch your opponent to another island hundreds of miles away is an instant "I win" power that the SHs don't enjoy.

Haki. Also just because someone eats a fruit doesn't mean they've instantly mastered all its powers. One of the things that really annoyed me about Sabo eating Ace's fruit is that he seems WAY too proficient for a DF he literally just ate. Compare that to Tashigi being swapped into Smoker's body and having no idea how to use his logia powers. If someone eats Kuma's fruit, I hope there's a steep learning curve and Sabo being Ace 2.0 was an exception.

Just some pet speculation but I think it'd be cool if Carrot ate Kuma's fruit and combined the paw abilities with electro. Seems like a great way to take a fruit we already know and use it in a lot of new and creative ways. She also tends to wear the gauntlets/gloves already…..

[Monquito]

@Cyan:

Yamato has been more intriguing in ten pages than Carrot has the entire five years we've known her.

Also he actually had a conversation with Luffy.

Personally, I think the naminess completly annihilates Yamato's chances.

But one very curious and impressive thing about Yamato, is that he was written to avoid any other SH or ally(at all), to be introduced right beside and to interact specifically with Luffy himself.

Contrary to Carrot, who literally met with every other SH first, and only met with Luffy last, whom with barely interacted with in her introduction arc.

[ArmamentHero]

@Monquito:

Personally, I think the naminess completly annihilates Yamato's chances.

But one very curious and impressive thing about Yamato, is that he was written to avoid any other SH or ally(at all), to be introduced right beside and to interact specifically with Luffy himself.

Contrary to Carrot, who literally met with every other SH first, and only met with Luffy last, whom with barely interacted with in her introduction arc.

I'm actually thinking Yamato is pretty distinguishable from Nami, etc. Everything else I pretty much agree.

Though I'm still going to wait and see where this plot line goes before jumping on the hype train.

[GreatLiver]

It's become pretty clear that one of Oda's biggest faults is the general sameness of his attractive female designs. Since the timeskip redesign, I've seen Robin as looking far less distinct than she used to be, with the way her nose is drawn being less noticeable without the bangs. Yamato's face has enough going for it, in particular the thick eyebrows, to make her distinct enough from generic Nami/Shirahoshi/Rebecca face. It's really just a trope of Oda at this point that I don't think it should be reason enough to count her out of the running, especially considering a lot of the other unique visual traits she has (hair tuft, dreads?, horns), just stuck on Oda's usual hourglass attractive female frame.

In 10 panels she's been more engaging than Carrot's been in 5 years. Once Wano is opened up, Momo's gonna take on leading the country with the help of the Akazaya, which would free up Yamato to chronicle the adventures of the next pirate king in the same fashion as Oden did with Roger.

[Cockycent]

I thought the things Kuma did was because how good he used it and not because the DF. Many of those things the Kuma did require precision. Is G2, 3, and 4 given at the beginning or do they have to work to get to those applications if they even even think to use it that way?

[Shiebs]

@Deicide:

I'm pretty sure Croc will return in next saga. His story seems linked to the Revolutionaries somehow. I don't expect him to be a big villain, more like a grey presence in the story. He may even be the character that teaches Luffy and Chopper about awakening DFs, acting as some sort of evil mentor. But joining? I doubt it, thought wouldn't mind him as some sort of ally.

I think Vegapunk will become an ally of the revolutionaries. As for Kuma… Well, that one we need to wait and see Bonnie's story.

Next arc/saga will probs see, Vegapunk, Kuma and Bonney's stories, they have some of the better chances of the characters on the lists to join (although I still think it will more likely be some new character we've yet to see)

and I tots agree that Croc will be more of a grey ally, who your not sure if he'll betray you or not, but need to work with because of certain circumstances

@Cyan:

Croco-boy is still one of the very few villains that Luffy a) remembers clearly and b) actively hates so udner what circumstances would this work?

It would never happen in a million years, that's why I put it in a different list from what will happen, I love the character and I love alliances where you can't completely trust someone on your side, Like Vegeta in Dragonball, Hiei from Yu Yu Hakusho or Jayne Cobb from Firefly (non manga one) but I doubt Oda would ever actually do it, it's just a nice little day dream

[Triceron]

I think it depends on the person with the powers. We have seen some people use powers more creatively than others, and someone like Shilliew will likely show off maneuvers that Absalom would never have achieved.

[FelRes]

Yamato - Oni Nami lol
Shinobu - who on earth is suggesting her
Red Scabbard - no reason for any of them to join
Momo - his place is in Wano obviously
Tama - a little inexperienced girl isn't going to join
Carrot - keep it to your fap folder
Supernova - no, they're their own thing
Caribou - I don't expect it but I'd love it
Other - Vivi is obviously the only character with a genuine shot and you all know this
None - it's either Vivi, someone who shows up in the next arc, or no one

I voted other since once the last character does join, they'll prolly comment on it ie "My crew's complete! This crew is pretty full huh!". Or at the very least, Jinbe being last will feel anticlimatic until the post-Wano party.

[Shiebs]

it would be funny if Diez Drake joined, it would be like Oda has been announcing he'd be the tenth Straw Hat from the start lol

and he definitely has a sad backstory

and despite meeting some straw hats he's really yet to interact with them, he wouldn't look at Nami and Robin and Sanji was always disguised as Soba mask, meaning he could be sort of like Franky who fought Usopp but had the mask on the whole time and then unmasked when he saw Luffy

Only way Caribou joins is if he threatens to reveal Posidon's secret if they don't let him join, and at least they'd have a logia but yeah no way Oda is gonna have a guy who was a homicidal maniac who "killed people" and abandoned his crew join, even if he's reformed

I think we'll have to wait to see more of VegaPunk, Bonney and Kuma whenever there arc comes up

EDIT: I don't think Yamato will join but I wouldn't mind it

There's always a big chance Vivi will rejoin the crew

still got my money on character we've yet to meet

[BellisarioFaith]

@Deicide:

I wonder who the people who vote "Other" or "a Supernova/a Red Scabbard" expect to join.

I've hinted mine. What about others' bets?

Well, my "other" is partially "none of the above", in that, while I do think we're gonna get one more (hence not voting for "Jimbei's the last one"), I'm seriously doubtful that it'll be any of the available choices on the poll based on everything we've seen so far. None of them feel right, certainly not the way Jimbei did. I could be quite wrong about that, and I'm sure part of that is my own bias because, by the time I started reading the series, Fishman Island was already complete and Jimbei had promised to join eventually, so him being official at some point has been a given to me for the whole time I've been reading weekly. But that doesn't change the fact that none of them have made the same impression and given the same vibes he did.

The one possible exception there is Yamato, whom we've just met and hasn't had the chance to leave much of any impression at all, but I'm not bandwagoning on him at this point. I suppose I could have waited a few months before casting my vote to see if he becomes more convincing and appealing as a possible Straw Hat, or if the hype for him dies out completely. Maybe after he's been around longer, I'll end up wishing I'd voted for him and feel much more optimistic about his chances. But eh. I'm friggen lazy and wanted to get my vote-explaining post out of the way before things start devolving in here, and Yamato, though he leaves me with a stronger first impression than several of the other options, seems perfectly viable as just an arc ally as well. I would rather just place my bets now and admit I was wrong later.

For whom I think it will be? No idea. Could even be a new character. Whom I'd like it to be? Vivi, who has far better chemistry with the Straw Hats–and I mean all of them (minus the three she never got the chance to meet), not just one or two–than any of the other choices. Hell, just the possible interactions between Vivi and Robin (whom she knew as an enemy) alone sound more interesting than everything we've gotten from some of these other choices combined. And for those who believe "Vivi already is a Straw Hat", yes, I believe that too, and still do consider her to be at least an honorary Straw Hat member regardless. But I'd literally prefer her coming back and sailing on the Sunny with them as a full-time member than any of the other choices joining. If one of them does, I won't love it, but it'll be whatever. If Vivi comes back, I will love it.

[BlueOGRE]

i voted for Kin'emon. i do not think the san-ni-go theory is a accident like some people do

[Zeorn]

I think you guys are missing out on the real deciding factor. What role would another crewmate serve is the most important question.

It took Oda how many years to finally figure out that Jinbei would be the official helmsman before he actually let him join the crew?

Luffy - Captain
Zoro - Muscle/Enforcer
Nami - Navigator/Meteorologist
Usopp - Gunner/Lookout
Sanji - Cook
Chopper - Doctor
Robin - Archaelogist/Historian
Franky - Shipwright
Brook - Musician
Jinbei - Helmsman

Decide what role is actually needed and then who can fill it.

[Deicide]

@BellisarioFaith:

For whom I think it will be? No idea. Could even be a new character. Whom I'd like it to be? Vivi, who has far better chemistry with the Straw Hats–and I mean all of them (minus the three she never got the chance to meet), not just one or two–than any of the other choices. Hell, just the possible interactions between Vivi and Robin (whom she knew as an enemy) alone sound more interesting than everything we've gotten from some of these other choices combined. And for those who believe "Vivi already is a Straw Hat", yes, I believe that too, and still do consider her to be at least an honorary Straw Hat member regardless. But I'd literally prefer her coming back and sailing on the Sunny with them as a full-time member than any of the other choices joining. If one of them does, I won't love it, but it'll be whatever. If Vivi comes back, I will love it.

I'm sure Vivi will return and travel with the Straw Hats again. I wouldn't be surprised if she goes all the way to Laugh Tale. But I don't think she will be "the last crewmate".

I'm very excited for the possibilities of next saga. Not only Vivi will return, but there's even a chance of seeing her interacting with Crocodile of all people.

Also, the One Piece world will have changed a lot. Two Yonko out of the picture, Blackbeard and Shanks battling, no Shichibukai anymore, possible return of several classic characters (Vivi, Croc, Pell, Buggy, Mr. 3). It will be a very exciting new New World to explore.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

@Zeorn:

I think you guys are missing out on the real deciding factor. What role would another crewmate serve is the most important question.

It took Oda how many years to finally figure out that Jinbei would be the official helmsman before he actually let him join the crew?

Luffy - Captain
Zoro - Muscle/Enforcer
Nami - Navigator/Meteorologist
Usopp - Gunner/Lookout
Sanji - Cook
Chopper - Doctor
Robin - Archaelogist/Historian
Franky - Shipwright
Brook - Musician
Jinbei - Helmsman

Decide what role is actually needed and then who can fill it.

I'm expecting Quartermaster as the last role.

For those who don't know, quartermaster is the one responsible for keeping the ship in order.

I think Jinbe will notice how chaotic are the things in the ship and, as a former captain and second mate, comment that they need one, BTW.

[theackwardstation]

@Deicide:

I'm expecting Quartermaster as the last role.

For those who don't know, Quartermaster is the one responsible for keeping the ship in order.

We've never actually seen a quartermaster in One Piece despite being one of the most important roles in a pirate ship, if not the most important. So I believe that Oda is ignoring it entirely.

Anyway, if someone is a quartermaster in Luffy's crew, it's definitely Nami.

The quartermaster is the one responsible for making a counterpoint to the captain's intentions with another point of view and respecting the will of the crew. That's Nami. She's the balance to Luffy's recklessness and sometimes her voice stands on top of his.

Not to mention that she orders everyone around… like a quartermaster.

[BobLoblaw]

From a story perspective, I'm still going with a lookout. No, it's not a role that Oda has emphasized in the series, but drawing Carrot/Pedro in that role a dozen times was no accident (she inherited the position from him much the same way that she will inherit his will imo). It was also no mistake that one of her first major showings involved scouting out the Whale Forest. There will be no "cabin" or apprentice characters to join as those only existed in flashbacks to tie current characters to major ones (sorry Solid). All of the other traditional roles wouldn't make any sense given the crew's current makeup.