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One Piece
World
The world of One Piece is predominantly ocean, with very few large landmasses and only one continent. This continent is called the "Red Line" and it runs vertically across the planet, similar to the Prime Meridian of Earth. The rest of the world is divided into oceans. These oceans are the Grand Line, which circles the One Piece world's equator, and the four Blues which are divided by the Grand Line and Red Line.
East Blue is where Luffy's pirate crew, the Strawhat Pirates, were founded. It is considered the "weakest" of the four Blues, and the threat from monster, pirate and revolutionary activity is minimal there compared to the other oceans. East Blue contains the homes of four Strawhat pirates: Luffy, Usopp, Nami, and Zoro.
Very little has been revealed about West, North, or South Blue. However, the Strawhat crew in the manga currently contains at least one member from each of these, and they have met various individuals from and read news of events in these Blues.
All Blue
All Blue is a legend among chefs in the One Piece world, and the dream of Luffy's crewmate and cook Sanji. All Blue is a sea where the four Blues meet together, and any kind of fish can be found; thus, it is a seafood chef's paradise. Even the chefs who spread this tale usually admit that it seems logically impossible, but Sanji's chef/pirate mentor Zeff was convinced that it existed after travelling the Grand Line for a year.
Grand Line
The Grand Line is the most dangerous ocean in the world, and the Pirate King Gold Roger supposedly left his treasure One Piece at the end of it on an island called Raftel. Due to the monster breeding grounds and unusual currents surrounding the Grand Line, it is very difficult to enter, and without particular technology the only entrance is through an unusual passage in the Red Line called Reverse Mountain. Approximately half of all ships that try to enter the Grand Line for the first time are destroyed in the effort.
The Grand Line has been called both "the Pirate Graveyard" and "a paradise." Because of unusual magnetic fields in the Grand Line, navigation is only possible through line-of-sight or devices called "Log Poses," which are sensitized to specific islands' magnetic fields. The seperation of islands and difficulty in travelling from island to island has resulted in vast differences between cultures on different islands. One island may be in a prehistoric state, while its nearest neighbor is technologically advanced. Aside from the huge number of pirates roaming the Grand Line, the Grand Line is also home to the Marine and World Government headquarters.
The New World
The second half of the Grand Line, after passing the Red Line again, is called "The New World." This area is so difficult to reach that it has been scantly explored, although the four most powerful pirates in the world, the "Four Emperors/Yonkou" （四皇）have bases here. It is said that the only person to reach the end of the New World was Gold Roger.
Skypiea
In certain areas of the world, semi-solid or solid "clouds" developed. These "sky islands" sometimes have inhabitants, in at least one example as a result of part of a land civilization being blasted up by a massive sea spout called the "Knock-Up Stream." (It has been suggested that there are other, safer ways to reach sky islands, but these have not been seen.) Sky islands do not seem to be particularly connected politically or culturally with the lower world (or the "blue sea" as it is referred to there, as opposed to the 'white sea' of above.) Nearly everything on a sky island is either made of the clouds or blown up from the world below. The sky island visited by the Strawhat Pirates, Skypiea, used tools called "dials" to help them through their daily tasks as well as using them as weapons. The Skypieans were amazed at substances as hard as steel. When the Strawhats arrived, a war was being fought over a patch of actual earth that had been blasted up into Skypiea, due to the value of earth there.
Sky islands contain elements of the ocean under them which helped them to form (particularly kairouseki particles) and so a Log Pose can sometimes indicate a sky island. These islands are not generally believed in, and most navigators assume that the Log Pose has simply broken when it points upward.
Culture
Pirates
After the execution of the famed Pirate King Gold Roger, throngs of people went out to sea and to the Grand Line in search of Roger's greatest treasure, the One Piece. The world is in a "Great Age of Pirates" (Dai kaizoku jidai/ 大海賊時代). Pirate crews vary a lot, including crews that focus on raiding civilians by land or sea, crews that pillage through clever schemes, crews that seek out treasures in hidden locations, crews that focus on salvage (sometimes of ships that they've sunk themselves) and crews that, like the Strawhats, generally just travel for adventure and start fights with anyone they take a particular disliking to (be they fellow pirates, Marines, or gods.) The main traits that pirates in the One Piece world all hold in common are their status as outlaws, their interest in money or power, their inability to follow rules and their very nice boats. The Yonkou, as the most powerful pirates that are free agents, are considered to be one of the balancing forces in the One Piece world.
Shichibukai ("Seven Sea Warriors"七武海)
Exceptions to the usual pirates are the Shichibukai, seven extremely powerful pirates who have signed on with the govenment to hunt other pirates and give part of their spoils to the World Government in exchange for clemency. The Shichibukai are considered another one of the balancing forces of power in the One Piece world.
Marines
The Marines work under the World Government, and have many bases across the world. Their motto is "Justice," and many of the higher rank Marines believe in "absolute justice" at any cost, even if innocent lives must be taken to ensure the overall peace. Like the Shichibukai and Yonkou, the Marines are the third member of the balancing forces of the world, keeping any one power (pirate, government, or otherwise) from gaining total control. "Marines" is sometimes translated as "Navy," although it is written "Marines" on official materials.
World Government
The world of One Piece has a variety of small island nations, and many of these are part of the larger World Government. The World Government of One Piece has existed for at least 800 years, and probably longer. There is a period of history called the "lost century" which has been erased by the efforts of the World Government, as well as a nation which the World Government has eliminated down to even the knowledge of its name. A set of mysterious and indestructible stone records called the "Poneglyphs" seem to leave information about this missing history, but the World Government has done its best to eradicate anyone who has knowledge of the lost language these stones were written in. The Marines and the Shichibukai are both answerable to the World Government, although the World Government also has its own, numbered set of organizations called "Cipher Pol." The most secretive of these, Cipher Pol 9, is in charge of assassinations.
Revolutionary Forces
The influence of these forces has only been felt tangentially thus far in One Piece, but stories of nations being overthrown and attacks against the World Government by non-pirate forces have continued during the background of the story. An extremely mysterious man, Dragon, is the head of this revolutionary movement.
Powers
Devil Fruit (Akuma no mi 悪魔の実)
The "devil fruit" is an unusual series of fruits which grant strange and seemingly supernatural powers. In exchange for these powers, the devil fruit user will never be able to swim again--he/she will become weakened and even immobilized in bodies of water, depending on how deeply submerged he/she is. (Rain and showers will not have this effect.) A substance called "seastone" (kairouseki 海楼石) has the same effect, and weapons or restraining devices made of this substance can rob devil fruit users of their powers and render them weak and helpless.
There is no way to tell what power a devil fruit will grant before it is eaten, although devil fruits of the same type can be recognized by appearance. There are three classes of devil fruit, each of which have different effects on the eater.
Paramecia
A paramecia fruit permanently affects the body of the eater, giving it some new quality. In Luffy's case, the Gomu Gomu no Mi turned his body into living rubber. Another paramecia fruit, the Kilo Kilo no Mi, enabled the eater to increase or decrease her weight at will. As a final and extreme example of this type, the Hana Hana no Mi altered the eater's body so that she could sprout extra body parts like a flower, on herself or on other objects. A paramecia fruit may be extremely powerful or weak depending on the skill and creativity of the user. Even underwater, a paramecia fruit user's body maintains its unusual qualities, although the user him or herself can't utilize these abilities by themselves. For example, Luffy can be stretched while underwater by other people, but he himself is immobilized.
Zoan
Zoan fruits are animal fruits, and many of them have "models" which reference the specific species within the zoan 'type.' An example of this is the Tori Tori (bird bird) no Mi, Model Falcon. Another individual might eat a Tori Tori no Mi but of a different model, such as a crow. Zoan eaters usually have three forms: their original form (human, or whatever sort of creature/object 'ate' the fruit,) a half-beast form where they take on some of the traits of both the fruit's influence and their natural shape, and a beast form where they take on all the traits of the eaten fruit's animal. This may actually not be a beast form... there is also a Hito Hito (human human) no Mi, which gives the eater human traits along with the original animal traits. A zoan user is unable to change forms when submerged.
Logia
Logia class fruits are the most powerful and dangerous, and the users of these fruits the most difficult to destroy. A logia eater's body is changed into some 'elemental' property, and the eater also gains some control over this property. (To compare to Luffy's paramecia rubber state, it would be as though Luffy were able to control other rubber objects and reform into a rubber substance no matter what damage was done to him.) Included in the powerful Logia class are the Moku Moku no Mi, which turns the user into smoke which can also be solidified enough to strike or contain an enemy, and the Goro Goro no Mi, the eater of which can turn into lightning, control thunderclouds, strike with lightning at will and melt metal through superheating among other capabilities. To defeat a logia class devil fruit user, an opponant usually needs to learn what the weakness of their element is. However, logia class are able to be struck by surprise and thus not take on the inhuman form on occasions, although this is rare and more likely with less skilled users. A logia user submerged under water is essentially a normal human, but immobilized.
Rokushiki (Six Forms 六式)
This is a style of extreme martial arts with six main 'moves' which can be adapted for the individual user. Rokushiki is taught to fighters for the World Government (such as Cipher Pol 9) and some Marines also know Rokushiki moves. Since there are no rokushiki users currently playing at Landel's, this description is mostly meant as an example of how human beings in the world of One Piece tend to have the capacity for extremely developed strength, speed and stamina. Some example moves are Geppou (moving legs so quickly and with such force that a person can propel himself/herself through the air) and Shigan (punching forth with one finger with enough force to penetrate the body like a bullet.)
There are other examples of Rokushiki-like moves which are not directly related to Rokushiki... for example, Captain Kuro of the Kuroneko Pirates had a move which allowed him to move so quickly that he became invisible to the naked eye, very similar to the speed enhancing Rokushiki move Soru. ((Unfortunately, Kuro could not see where he was striking, making the attack only useful if he didn't mind killing everyone around him in the process and inferior to Soru.)
Mantra
Mantra is a limited kind of telepathic or empathic sensitivity. This ability seems to be inborn and has only been shown used by some Skypiean natives. The sensitivity of Mantra (from ideas of where the enemy will strike next to hearing actual thoughts) and range both vary depending on the individual. Mantra users can also be distracted to the point that their sensitivity is not enough to help them in battle, especially for weaker Mantra users. Mantra does not seem to be primarily a trainable battle trait, since one very sensitive Mantra user on Skypiea was a frail little girl.
Technology
The technology of the world of One Piece varies depending on location; however, the World Government and massive numbers of sea-farers have begun to expose less developed areas to the outside world and to bring the technology of the most advanced civilizations to the majority of people.
In general, the One Piece world seems to be at a point similar to Earth just after the beginning of the age of exploration, with most ships made of wood and the cannons the primary weapon at sea. Certain technologies that were not available at the time on Earth have developed in One Piece, though, such as ship-based water purification systems, refrigeration, and mass communication. Many of these developments could be credited with the watery nature of the One Piece world and the high priority placed on easing sea travel, as well as some of the strange natural phenomena in One Piece.
Weaponry
Most of the fighting within the world of One Piece is done with cannons, swords, or firearms. Most of these firearms seem to be fairly primitive, flintlock systems. Some weapons have been developed more specifically for devil fruit users, to take advantage of their powers or to stop them. The Marines and World Government have the most advanced developments in weaponry, but many of the technologies they have developed gradually become available on the civilian market (for example, Usopp's sniper goggles were a new innovation from the Marines but purchased in a normal store.)
Hidden somewhere in the One Piece world here are ancient weapons named after gods, such as Pluton and Poseidon, which contained world-altering power. Gaining knowledge about the possible locations or designs of these weapons could cause a serious shift in the balance of power of the One Piece world. The only information left on them is found on Poneglyphs, mysterious stone artifacts whose ancient language is known by a single person in the world.
Dendenmushi (Snail Phone)
Dendenmushi are actually a species of animal, a strange kind of snail which can transmit sounds across long distances. Many individuals have their own dendenmushi, which can have a mysterious resemblence to the owner and even mimics the facial expressions of the speaker. Aside from normal dendenmushi, there are baby dendenmushi which can be used similarly to walkietalkies, black dendenmushi which can 'listen in' to regular dendenmushi conversation although the signal may not always be clear, and particular special dendenmushi can be used for specific tasks (the Golden Dendenmushi is the signal used to call for a Buster Call, the island-obliterating ultimate Marine assault.)
Kairouseki (Seastone)
As mentioned in the Devil Fruits section, kairouseki is a stone which contains some strange 'essence' of the ocean and which can be used to rob a Devil Fruit user of his/her powers. The World Government has developed a variety of uses for this substance. Handcuffs, cages, nets and weapons which use kairouseki are normal parts of the Marine arsenal. More unusual is the use of kairouseki to line the bottom of boats, making the ship 'invisible' to the sea monsters that inhabit the area lining the Grand Lin and easing entrance to the Grand Line.
ClimaTact
The ClimaTact is a weapon built by Usopp for his crewmate Nami. It consists of three sections which combine to the shape of a pole, although other configurations can cause different results. The main attack power of the ClimaTact is in its weather control. Each of the 'tacts' release either heat, cold, or mild/static electric charges, and the combination of these in the right order can result in a powerful lightning strike or a localized thunderstorm. The weapon is particularly suited to Nami, who has an extremely developed understanding of weather.
Species
Humans
Most of the characters in One Piece are human. Due to the existence of devil fruits and great physical potential, however, some humans can perform superhuman feats in the right circumstances. Other humans are more normal and possess skills and strength that could exist within reality. Within the Strawhat Pirates, Usopp and Nami have commented to each other on how they are only normal humans when compared to the "monsters" on the ship, their powerful but human crewmates Zoro, Sanji and Luffy.
Fishpeople and Mermaids
Fishpeople (魚人, gyojin) and merpeople (人魚, ningyo) are distinct in the One Piece world. Fishpeople are a combination of fish and human across the entire body, whereas merpeople are fish at bottom, human on top. These two groups seem to coexist, however, and it has been implied that both fishpeople and merpeople inhabit "Fishman Island" on the Grand Line. Fishpeople are born with strength ten times that of a normal human; the strength of merpeople relative to humans is not clear. Merpeople gain the ability to seperate their tail into legs and walk on land after the age of 30. Fishpeople have been shown as male and female, but no male merpeople/mermen have been seen yet.
Humans and fishpeople can intermate, since fishpeople are actually mammals and bear young through the same methods as humans. Half-fishpeople are not especially uncommon, and some unusual physical traits on otherwise human individuals are likely the result of fishman blood.
There is some animosity between fishpeople and humans. Arlong, a fishman pirate captain, believed that fishpeople were superior to humans due to their greater strength and ability to survive underwater, and therefore should rule over humans as a master race. In an opposite example, a shipbuilder fishman named Tom who had lived peacefully in the same city for years was easily framed and accused of 'rampaging' by other humans, even his former neighbors.
Giants
Giants are another race which coexists with humans in the world of One Piece, although they seem to be rarer than fishpeople. One island of giants is called Elbaf, and is named after the god of warriors whom the Elbaf giants revere. All giants are not from this island, however, and one giant seemed to consider the giants of Elbaf barbaric. After meeting the warrior giants Brogy and Dory, it became a dream of Usopp's to visit Elbaf, as he feels the warrior ethic there matches his own vision of being a warrior of the sea.
The method remains mysterious, but there are half-giant, half-human hybrids, usually at half or less the size of full-blooded giants. Many characters in One Piece are quite oversized compared to other humans and this may be due to some giant blood in their ancestry.
Half-giant, half-fishman hybrids are called wotan, although the Strawhat crew has only met one example thus far.
Philosophy
Many of the fights in One Piece, especially those started by Luffy and his crew, are based around conflicting philosophies. Aside from this, these philosophies are a core part of One Piece and tie together the story through different arcs.
Friendship/Nakama
In East Blue, Luffy's early enemies are mainly pirates who view their underlings as disposable. Alvida, Buggy, Kuro and Kreig were all pirate captains who injured or even killed their underlings for disobedience or disrespect, whether real or imagined. Luffy's own belief is that his crewmates or nakama (仲間, a term which takes on more than usual significance in One Piece) are indispensable to him. Although this outlook is naive, his own strength as well as the strength of his conviction result in his smashing all of these pirates who believe that their coldhearted self-centeredness is a strength rather than a weakness. The theme of reliance on and in trust in one's nakama comes to a head at the end of the East Blue story arc, where one of Luffy's nakama seems to betray him and Luffy faces Arlong, who considers his fellow fishmen nakama to be his 'brothers' unlike previous captains. This storyline is considered pivotal to most One Piece fans, as Luffy outright explains his reliance on his crewmates ("I can't fight with a sword, I can't navigate, I can't cook, I can't even lie! I need others to help me survive!") and refuses to accept the 'betrayal' of his nakama, neither leaving the situation nor forcing help until it was asked for. After Arlong refers to knowing how to properly 'use' the nakama in question, Luffy is enraged by the word 'use' and almost immediately finishes the battle, showing that his value in his crewmates is also not simply utilitarian.
In later storylines, although some pirate crews continue to be based off of a strong captain's dictatorship, more and more powerful crews are demonstrated as being the result of mutual cooperation. This may more accurately reflect actual historical pirate crews, which were usually governed by a signed agreement and contained specific details of what crimes on-board were punishable by death, who got what share of the loot, and how/if the captain could be dismissed and replaced. (In real life, after all, it's difficult to hire on even stupid brigands if you have a reputation for shooting people in the chest when they disagree, as Kreig did.)
Especially notable is the crew of Whitebeard, one of the Yonkou. All of his underlings refer to him as "oyaji," a casual term for father, and Whitebeard has said that no matter what kind of an idiot a person is, if they are a member of his crew they are like his child. When one of his crewmates killed another, he sent his second division battle commander to chase down and kill the culprit for the only unforgivable crime on the ship--slaying a comrade.
Luffy's own convictions about loyalty seem to stem from his childhood hero, a captain named Shanks who also felt that a harm to himself was insignficant but a harm to his friends could not be forgiven.
Inherited Will
In a brief speech before his death, Gold Roger said that "inherited will" (受け継がれる意思) is something which cannot be stopped. ('Will' here is in the sense of 'volition' or 'intent.') All of the Strawhat crewmembers have parental figures they look up to, although often not their own parents--this 'inherited will' is a way in which the dreams and strength of the past are kept alive even after the parental figures are dead or simply unable to pursue their dreams.
On a larger scale, the world has plunged into a Pirate Age by the will that has been passed down from Gold Roger, despite the efforts of the World Government. The mysterious "poneglyphs" which record history or tell of lost weaponry are also a kind of will passed down; by leaving this information for the future, eventually someone will read the completing Rio Poneglyph and thus inherit the will of the poneglyph creators. The will to protect a nation, preserve the past or uncover a truth is also a common theme for side characters in One Piece. Within the Skypiea story arc, the will of a crushed people, the will of a long-dead explorer and the will of an honored warrior from ancient times are all fulfilled through descendents who have not forgotten the importance of the past.
This "inherited will" is unstoppable by its very nature because it something which is passed on through death or time. It may be that Roger's words were meant generally, as they apply very well to the One Piece universe, or it may have been a direct challenge to the World Government and their attempts to cover up what is written on the Poneglyphs and the forgotten century in history. The fact that this challenge was issued directly before his execution did not matter--this is the nature of inherited will.
The world of One Piece is predominantly ocean, with very few large landmasses and only one continent. This continent is called the "Red Line" and it runs vertically across the planet, similar to the Prime Meridian of Earth. The rest of the world is divided into oceans. These oceans are the Grand Line, which circles the One Piece world's equator, and the four Blues which are divided by the Grand Line and Red Line.
East Blue is where Luffy's pirate crew, the Strawhat Pirates, were founded. It is considered the "weakest" of the four Blues, and the threat from monster, pirate and revolutionary activity is minimal there compared to the other oceans. East Blue contains the homes of four Strawhat pirates: Luffy, Usopp, Nami, and Zoro.
Very little has been revealed about West, North, or South Blue. However, the Strawhat crew in the manga currently contains at least one member from each of these, and they have met various individuals from and read news of events in these Blues.
All Blue
All Blue is a legend among chefs in the One Piece world, and the dream of Luffy's crewmate and cook Sanji. All Blue is a sea where the four Blues meet together, and any kind of fish can be found; thus, it is a seafood chef's paradise. Even the chefs who spread this tale usually admit that it seems logically impossible, but Sanji's chef/pirate mentor Zeff was convinced that it existed after travelling the Grand Line for a year.
Grand Line
The Grand Line is the most dangerous ocean in the world, and the Pirate King Gold Roger supposedly left his treasure One Piece at the end of it on an island called Raftel. Due to the monster breeding grounds and unusual currents surrounding the Grand Line, it is very difficult to enter, and without particular technology the only entrance is through an unusual passage in the Red Line called Reverse Mountain. Approximately half of all ships that try to enter the Grand Line for the first time are destroyed in the effort.
The Grand Line has been called both "the Pirate Graveyard" and "a paradise." Because of unusual magnetic fields in the Grand Line, navigation is only possible through line-of-sight or devices called "Log Poses," which are sensitized to specific islands' magnetic fields. The seperation of islands and difficulty in travelling from island to island has resulted in vast differences between cultures on different islands. One island may be in a prehistoric state, while its nearest neighbor is technologically advanced. Aside from the huge number of pirates roaming the Grand Line, the Grand Line is also home to the Marine and World Government headquarters.
The New World
The second half of the Grand Line, after passing the Red Line again, is called "The New World." This area is so difficult to reach that it has been scantly explored, although the four most powerful pirates in the world, the "Four Emperors/Yonkou" （四皇）have bases here. It is said that the only person to reach the end of the New World was Gold Roger.
Skypiea
In certain areas of the world, semi-solid or solid "clouds" developed. These "sky islands" sometimes have inhabitants, in at least one example as a result of part of a land civilization being blasted up by a massive sea spout called the "Knock-Up Stream." (It has been suggested that there are other, safer ways to reach sky islands, but these have not been seen.) Sky islands do not seem to be particularly connected politically or culturally with the lower world (or the "blue sea" as it is referred to there, as opposed to the 'white sea' of above.) Nearly everything on a sky island is either made of the clouds or blown up from the world below. The sky island visited by the Strawhat Pirates, Skypiea, used tools called "dials" to help them through their daily tasks as well as using them as weapons. The Skypieans were amazed at substances as hard as steel. When the Strawhats arrived, a war was being fought over a patch of actual earth that had been blasted up into Skypiea, due to the value of earth there.
Sky islands contain elements of the ocean under them which helped them to form (particularly kairouseki particles) and so a Log Pose can sometimes indicate a sky island. These islands are not generally believed in, and most navigators assume that the Log Pose has simply broken when it points upward.
Culture
Pirates
Shichibukai ("Seven Sea Warriors"七武海)
Exceptions to the usual pirates are the Shichibukai, seven extremely powerful pirates who have signed on with the govenment to hunt other pirates and give part of their spoils to the World Government in exchange for clemency. The Shichibukai are considered another one of the balancing forces of power in the One Piece world.
MarinesThe Marines work under the World Government, and have many bases across the world. Their motto is "Justice," and many of the higher rank Marines believe in "absolute justice" at any cost, even if innocent lives must be taken to ensure the overall peace. Like the Shichibukai and Yonkou, the Marines are the third member of the balancing forces of the world, keeping any one power (pirate, government, or otherwise) from gaining total control. "Marines" is sometimes translated as "Navy," although it is written "Marines" on official materials.
World Government
The world of One Piece has a variety of small island nations, and many of these are part of the larger World Government. The World Government of One Piece has existed for at least 800 years, and probably longer. There is a period of history called the "lost century" which has been erased by the efforts of the World Government, as well as a nation which the World Government has eliminated down to even the knowledge of its name. A set of mysterious and indestructible stone records called the "Poneglyphs" seem to leave information about this missing history, but the World Government has done its best to eradicate anyone who has knowledge of the lost language these stones were written in. The Marines and the Shichibukai are both answerable to the World Government, although the World Government also has its own, numbered set of organizations called "Cipher Pol." The most secretive of these, Cipher Pol 9, is in charge of assassinations.
Revolutionary Forces
The influence of these forces has only been felt tangentially thus far in One Piece, but stories of nations being overthrown and attacks against the World Government by non-pirate forces have continued during the background of the story. An extremely mysterious man, Dragon, is the head of this revolutionary movement.
Powers
Devil Fruit (Akuma no mi 悪魔の実)
The "devil fruit" is an unusual series of fruits which grant strange and seemingly supernatural powers. In exchange for these powers, the devil fruit user will never be able to swim again--he/she will become weakened and even immobilized in bodies of water, depending on how deeply submerged he/she is. (Rain and showers will not have this effect.) A substance called "seastone" (kairouseki 海楼石) has the same effect, and weapons or restraining devices made of this substance can rob devil fruit users of their powers and render them weak and helpless.
There is no way to tell what power a devil fruit will grant before it is eaten, although devil fruits of the same type can be recognized by appearance. There are three classes of devil fruit, each of which have different effects on the eater.
Paramecia
A paramecia fruit permanently affects the body of the eater, giving it some new quality. In Luffy's case, the Gomu Gomu no Mi turned his body into living rubber. Another paramecia fruit, the Kilo Kilo no Mi, enabled the eater to increase or decrease her weight at will. As a final and extreme example of this type, the Hana Hana no Mi altered the eater's body so that she could sprout extra body parts like a flower, on herself or on other objects. A paramecia fruit may be extremely powerful or weak depending on the skill and creativity of the user. Even underwater, a paramecia fruit user's body maintains its unusual qualities, although the user him or herself can't utilize these abilities by themselves. For example, Luffy can be stretched while underwater by other people, but he himself is immobilized.
Zoan
Zoan fruits are animal fruits, and many of them have "models" which reference the specific species within the zoan 'type.' An example of this is the Tori Tori (bird bird) no Mi, Model Falcon. Another individual might eat a Tori Tori no Mi but of a different model, such as a crow. Zoan eaters usually have three forms: their original form (human, or whatever sort of creature/object 'ate' the fruit,) a half-beast form where they take on some of the traits of both the fruit's influence and their natural shape, and a beast form where they take on all the traits of the eaten fruit's animal. This may actually not be a beast form... there is also a Hito Hito (human human) no Mi, which gives the eater human traits along with the original animal traits. A zoan user is unable to change forms when submerged.
Logia
Logia class fruits are the most powerful and dangerous, and the users of these fruits the most difficult to destroy. A logia eater's body is changed into some 'elemental' property, and the eater also gains some control over this property. (To compare to Luffy's paramecia rubber state, it would be as though Luffy were able to control other rubber objects and reform into a rubber substance no matter what damage was done to him.) Included in the powerful Logia class are the Moku Moku no Mi, which turns the user into smoke which can also be solidified enough to strike or contain an enemy, and the Goro Goro no Mi, the eater of which can turn into lightning, control thunderclouds, strike with lightning at will and melt metal through superheating among other capabilities. To defeat a logia class devil fruit user, an opponant usually needs to learn what the weakness of their element is. However, logia class are able to be struck by surprise and thus not take on the inhuman form on occasions, although this is rare and more likely with less skilled users. A logia user submerged under water is essentially a normal human, but immobilized.
Rokushiki (Six Forms 六式)
This is a style of extreme martial arts with six main 'moves' which can be adapted for the individual user. Rokushiki is taught to fighters for the World Government (such as Cipher Pol 9) and some Marines also know Rokushiki moves. Since there are no rokushiki users currently playing at Landel's, this description is mostly meant as an example of how human beings in the world of One Piece tend to have the capacity for extremely developed strength, speed and stamina. Some example moves are Geppou (moving legs so quickly and with such force that a person can propel himself/herself through the air) and Shigan (punching forth with one finger with enough force to penetrate the body like a bullet.)
There are other examples of Rokushiki-like moves which are not directly related to Rokushiki... for example, Captain Kuro of the Kuroneko Pirates had a move which allowed him to move so quickly that he became invisible to the naked eye, very similar to the speed enhancing Rokushiki move Soru. ((Unfortunately, Kuro could not see where he was striking, making the attack only useful if he didn't mind killing everyone around him in the process and inferior to Soru.)
Mantra
Mantra is a limited kind of telepathic or empathic sensitivity. This ability seems to be inborn and has only been shown used by some Skypiean natives. The sensitivity of Mantra (from ideas of where the enemy will strike next to hearing actual thoughts) and range both vary depending on the individual. Mantra users can also be distracted to the point that their sensitivity is not enough to help them in battle, especially for weaker Mantra users. Mantra does not seem to be primarily a trainable battle trait, since one very sensitive Mantra user on Skypiea was a frail little girl.
Technology
The technology of the world of One Piece varies depending on location; however, the World Government and massive numbers of sea-farers have begun to expose less developed areas to the outside world and to bring the technology of the most advanced civilizations to the majority of people.
In general, the One Piece world seems to be at a point similar to Earth just after the beginning of the age of exploration, with most ships made of wood and the cannons the primary weapon at sea. Certain technologies that were not available at the time on Earth have developed in One Piece, though, such as ship-based water purification systems, refrigeration, and mass communication. Many of these developments could be credited with the watery nature of the One Piece world and the high priority placed on easing sea travel, as well as some of the strange natural phenomena in One Piece.
Weaponry
Most of the fighting within the world of One Piece is done with cannons, swords, or firearms. Most of these firearms seem to be fairly primitive, flintlock systems. Some weapons have been developed more specifically for devil fruit users, to take advantage of their powers or to stop them. The Marines and World Government have the most advanced developments in weaponry, but many of the technologies they have developed gradually become available on the civilian market (for example, Usopp's sniper goggles were a new innovation from the Marines but purchased in a normal store.)
Hidden somewhere in the One Piece world here are ancient weapons named after gods, such as Pluton and Poseidon, which contained world-altering power. Gaining knowledge about the possible locations or designs of these weapons could cause a serious shift in the balance of power of the One Piece world. The only information left on them is found on Poneglyphs, mysterious stone artifacts whose ancient language is known by a single person in the world.
Dendenmushi (Snail Phone)
Dendenmushi are actually a species of animal, a strange kind of snail which can transmit sounds across long distances. Many individuals have their own dendenmushi, which can have a mysterious resemblence to the owner and even mimics the facial expressions of the speaker. Aside from normal dendenmushi, there are baby dendenmushi which can be used similarly to walkietalkies, black dendenmushi which can 'listen in' to regular dendenmushi conversation although the signal may not always be clear, and particular special dendenmushi can be used for specific tasks (the Golden Dendenmushi is the signal used to call for a Buster Call, the island-obliterating ultimate Marine assault.)
Kairouseki (Seastone)
As mentioned in the Devil Fruits section, kairouseki is a stone which contains some strange 'essence' of the ocean and which can be used to rob a Devil Fruit user of his/her powers. The World Government has developed a variety of uses for this substance. Handcuffs, cages, nets and weapons which use kairouseki are normal parts of the Marine arsenal. More unusual is the use of kairouseki to line the bottom of boats, making the ship 'invisible' to the sea monsters that inhabit the area lining the Grand Lin and easing entrance to the Grand Line.
ClimaTact
The ClimaTact is a weapon built by Usopp for his crewmate Nami. It consists of three sections which combine to the shape of a pole, although other configurations can cause different results. The main attack power of the ClimaTact is in its weather control. Each of the 'tacts' release either heat, cold, or mild/static electric charges, and the combination of these in the right order can result in a powerful lightning strike or a localized thunderstorm. The weapon is particularly suited to Nami, who has an extremely developed understanding of weather.
Species
Humans
Most of the characters in One Piece are human. Due to the existence of devil fruits and great physical potential, however, some humans can perform superhuman feats in the right circumstances. Other humans are more normal and possess skills and strength that could exist within reality. Within the Strawhat Pirates, Usopp and Nami have commented to each other on how they are only normal humans when compared to the "monsters" on the ship, their powerful but human crewmates Zoro, Sanji and Luffy.
Fishpeople and Mermaids
Fishpeople (魚人, gyojin) and merpeople (人魚, ningyo) are distinct in the One Piece world. Fishpeople are a combination of fish and human across the entire body, whereas merpeople are fish at bottom, human on top. These two groups seem to coexist, however, and it has been implied that both fishpeople and merpeople inhabit "Fishman Island" on the Grand Line. Fishpeople are born with strength ten times that of a normal human; the strength of merpeople relative to humans is not clear. Merpeople gain the ability to seperate their tail into legs and walk on land after the age of 30. Fishpeople have been shown as male and female, but no male merpeople/mermen have been seen yet.
Humans and fishpeople can intermate, since fishpeople are actually mammals and bear young through the same methods as humans. Half-fishpeople are not especially uncommon, and some unusual physical traits on otherwise human individuals are likely the result of fishman blood.
There is some animosity between fishpeople and humans. Arlong, a fishman pirate captain, believed that fishpeople were superior to humans due to their greater strength and ability to survive underwater, and therefore should rule over humans as a master race. In an opposite example, a shipbuilder fishman named Tom who had lived peacefully in the same city for years was easily framed and accused of 'rampaging' by other humans, even his former neighbors.
Giants
Giants are another race which coexists with humans in the world of One Piece, although they seem to be rarer than fishpeople. One island of giants is called Elbaf, and is named after the god of warriors whom the Elbaf giants revere. All giants are not from this island, however, and one giant seemed to consider the giants of Elbaf barbaric. After meeting the warrior giants Brogy and Dory, it became a dream of Usopp's to visit Elbaf, as he feels the warrior ethic there matches his own vision of being a warrior of the sea.
The method remains mysterious, but there are half-giant, half-human hybrids, usually at half or less the size of full-blooded giants. Many characters in One Piece are quite oversized compared to other humans and this may be due to some giant blood in their ancestry.
Half-giant, half-fishman hybrids are called wotan, although the Strawhat crew has only met one example thus far.
Philosophy
Many of the fights in One Piece, especially those started by Luffy and his crew, are based around conflicting philosophies. Aside from this, these philosophies are a core part of One Piece and tie together the story through different arcs.
Friendship/Nakama
In East Blue, Luffy's early enemies are mainly pirates who view their underlings as disposable. Alvida, Buggy, Kuro and Kreig were all pirate captains who injured or even killed their underlings for disobedience or disrespect, whether real or imagined. Luffy's own belief is that his crewmates or nakama (仲間, a term which takes on more than usual significance in One Piece) are indispensable to him. Although this outlook is naive, his own strength as well as the strength of his conviction result in his smashing all of these pirates who believe that their coldhearted self-centeredness is a strength rather than a weakness. The theme of reliance on and in trust in one's nakama comes to a head at the end of the East Blue story arc, where one of Luffy's nakama seems to betray him and Luffy faces Arlong, who considers his fellow fishmen nakama to be his 'brothers' unlike previous captains. This storyline is considered pivotal to most One Piece fans, as Luffy outright explains his reliance on his crewmates ("I can't fight with a sword, I can't navigate, I can't cook, I can't even lie! I need others to help me survive!") and refuses to accept the 'betrayal' of his nakama, neither leaving the situation nor forcing help until it was asked for. After Arlong refers to knowing how to properly 'use' the nakama in question, Luffy is enraged by the word 'use' and almost immediately finishes the battle, showing that his value in his crewmates is also not simply utilitarian.
In later storylines, although some pirate crews continue to be based off of a strong captain's dictatorship, more and more powerful crews are demonstrated as being the result of mutual cooperation. This may more accurately reflect actual historical pirate crews, which were usually governed by a signed agreement and contained specific details of what crimes on-board were punishable by death, who got what share of the loot, and how/if the captain could be dismissed and replaced. (In real life, after all, it's difficult to hire on even stupid brigands if you have a reputation for shooting people in the chest when they disagree, as Kreig did.)
Especially notable is the crew of Whitebeard, one of the Yonkou. All of his underlings refer to him as "oyaji," a casual term for father, and Whitebeard has said that no matter what kind of an idiot a person is, if they are a member of his crew they are like his child. When one of his crewmates killed another, he sent his second division battle commander to chase down and kill the culprit for the only unforgivable crime on the ship--slaying a comrade.
Luffy's own convictions about loyalty seem to stem from his childhood hero, a captain named Shanks who also felt that a harm to himself was insignficant but a harm to his friends could not be forgiven.
Inherited Will
In a brief speech before his death, Gold Roger said that "inherited will" (受け継がれる意思) is something which cannot be stopped. ('Will' here is in the sense of 'volition' or 'intent.') All of the Strawhat crewmembers have parental figures they look up to, although often not their own parents--this 'inherited will' is a way in which the dreams and strength of the past are kept alive even after the parental figures are dead or simply unable to pursue their dreams.
On a larger scale, the world has plunged into a Pirate Age by the will that has been passed down from Gold Roger, despite the efforts of the World Government. The mysterious "poneglyphs" which record history or tell of lost weaponry are also a kind of will passed down; by leaving this information for the future, eventually someone will read the completing Rio Poneglyph and thus inherit the will of the poneglyph creators. The will to protect a nation, preserve the past or uncover a truth is also a common theme for side characters in One Piece. Within the Skypiea story arc, the will of a crushed people, the will of a long-dead explorer and the will of an honored warrior from ancient times are all fulfilled through descendents who have not forgotten the importance of the past.
This "inherited will" is unstoppable by its very nature because it something which is passed on through death or time. It may be that Roger's words were meant generally, as they apply very well to the One Piece universe, or it may have been a direct challenge to the World Government and their attempts to cover up what is written on the Poneglyphs and the forgotten century in history. The fact that this challenge was issued directly before his execution did not matter--this is the nature of inherited will.
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