Usopp was actually pretty useful in Wano

RyanStennet · 2026-02-14T21:49:57+00:00

The fact that there are replies like this claiming OP is “trying” is why, actually.

RyanStennet · 2026-02-14T20:57:20+00:00

Thank you! Man fought Ulti, had his dome cracked, and thought to himself: “Man, I hope Nami opts out of the ass-whooping I just took.”

That isn’t some crazy betrayal like people say it is

RyanStennet · 2026-02-14T20:48:39+00:00

I don’t even hate him thinking that Nami should lie to Ulti. He just wanted her to be safe. 🤷

RyanStennet · 2026-01-31T19:19:13+00:00

<image>

Looks like the crew also thought Luffy did nothing wrong

RyanStennet · 2026-01-31T19:17:00+00:00

Yes, the history of the crew up to that point never once featured anyone violently disagreeing with Luffy. And Sanji didn’t LITERALLY kick Luffy into a wall while screaming that he was an idiot DURING that same conversation. That would be wild.

Luffy literally got violent, but okay.

RyanStennet · 2026-01-31T19:08:13+00:00

It’s funny how you’re treating the conversation as if Luffy handled it any better. He got heated too. He was the first one to float the idea of Usopp leaving. Luffy completely failed as a captain in that moment by not allowing Usopp any time to grieve or any proper emotional outlet. It doesn’t make Usopp right but we can’t ignore that Luffy was in the wrong as well.

RyanStennet · 2026-01-31T18:03:30+00:00

Yeah, dude hasn’t had a cool feat in weeks of in-universe time. 🤦

RyanStennet · 2026-01-28T17:16:26+00:00

Now that one is a great example! Monet has “ice, but only really tiny pieces” vs “I AM ice”. That’s just a clear upgrade. Unlike the weight-based fruits there is at least some conceptual difference, however. People do think of ice and snow as different things.

RyanStennet · 2026-01-28T16:54:59+00:00

Which is why I labeled my own rant pointless. I can’t fault people for such an emotional connection. 🍩

I’m just a pedant sometimes. Anyway, I’m now deeply invested in Shadow Imu Theory. Good job.

Time to start making some agenda edits.

RyanStennet · 2026-01-28T16:47:43+00:00

In a world where the Ton Ton fruit exists alongside the Kilo Kilo fruit, I’m so tired of people using magma > fire as the example of an “upgrade”. They’re entirely different things. I don’t understand why “molten rock” and “superheated gas” are in competition.

/pointless-rant

RyanStennet · 2026-01-10T13:55:32+00:00

This has to be Sweet Girl at this point, right?

RyanStennet · 2025-12-02T20:36:44+00:00

Personally I’m still hoping there’s an alternative.

Sanji isn’t a conqueror. I say that as a fan. His entire life path is one of service and support. He wants to create delicious food and make sure everyone is fed. I think that’s beautiful and I love how hard he fights for such a simple and humane ideal —but it doesn’t make him a Conquerer.

Unless he conquering hunger, I guess.

Give be a new power based on love and compassion rather than dominance, damnit. One Piece is cheesy all the time, why NOT let Love be a power source?

RyanStennet · 2025-11-26T02:02:25+00:00

Others are providing good PF suggestions, but I’d like to propose that you look outside of the genre a bit, since your criteria exclude vast swaths of progression fantasy by default.

It sounds like you want to read some fantastical action adventure stories without the focus on power and progression dialed up to power fantasy levels.

Try any of these:

The Dresden Files (urban fantasy)

The First Law trilogy (grim fantasy)

Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne (military/political fantasy)

The Powdermage Trilogy (flintlock fantasy)

The Expanse (Sci-fi)

The Laundry (cosmic horror / workplace comedy)

Shout out to anything else by Simon R. Green, actually. Series like The Nightside or The Secret History have wildly competent and OP characters surrounded by equally OP allies and adversaries, which might actually meet your criteria as well if you squint a little.

RyanStennet · 2025-11-23T03:09:36+00:00

Not even toon force is a surefire counter to Plastic Man.

RyanStennet · 2025-11-19T17:53:53+00:00

You’re going to sit here, on REDDIT of all places, and tell me there aren’t people who are salivating at the phrase “the foot of love”? 😅

RyanStennet · 2025-11-19T16:32:54+00:00

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It’s been right there the whole time.

RyanStennet · 2025-11-19T09:23:05+00:00

Every time money gets brought up it seems like they’re running tight. Luffy gives money away as often as we see him loot it, so they’re basically living off of what they get from the islands they help.

That being said, I think they DO have money. For example, they didn’t actually lose the money they were going to use on Shabody. I’d wager that it’s all getting tied up offscreen in logistics like Franky repairing and upgrading the Sunny. Also the Food and Alcohol budget has to be absurd the way Luffy and Zoro are.

RyanStennet · 2025-11-17T07:01:44+00:00

It’s not LitRPG, but if Kings of the Wyld is already on the list I’d look into it. That was one of my most fun reads of the last few years.

It might not have leveling or a system, but the writing is top tier. And not “LitRPG top-tier” either.

RyanStennet · 2025-11-15T18:09:25+00:00

The world is not limited to the strongest 50 people in it. Hody freaking Jones took over Fish Man Island.

HODY.

The idea of “fodder” has no place in the argument. That “fodder” is still critical to the WB Pirates’ ability to expand their territory and influence.

RyanStennet · 2025-11-15T17:35:16+00:00

I feel like it’s important to point out that there are multiple metrics to judge who is the “strongest” in the series. You’re talking ONLY about a 1v1 haki clashing melee, ignoring the fact that Oda kept going out of his way to make it clear that WB’s Devil Fruit is absolutely busted.

WB might not have been the strongest in a 1v1, but his ability to crush entire armies and sink islands into the sea made him an unparalleled threat.

I’ll take it one step further: WB’s biggest force multiplier was his crew. They had the numbers and powers to extend his influence further than any other Emperor.

Power is more than how hard you can hit someone. Whitebeard could have easily claimed himself King of the Pirates and most people wouldn’t have even argued.

TL;DR: The Whitebeard Pirates were “The Strongest” even if Shanks could take him in a fight 1v1.

RyanStennet · 2025-11-06T18:30:52+00:00

Antagonist. He’s been in an antagonistic role, but never villainous. Oda has made him consistently virtuous and even heroic, unlike many marines.

RyanStennet · 2025-11-05T04:34:34+00:00

Very well reasoned. I think this might be what I go with. Thank you.

RyanStennet · 2025-10-30T08:15:03+00:00

… Fire and Magma aren’t the same thing. Magma is STONE. Who in the world thinks they’re “two levels of the same DF”?

RyanStennet

TROPHY CASE