Interesting concept. Like @Sunbather from the interest check thread, I was going to join another One Piece roleplay, but it died and I'm not sure how good the replacement that is being thought of will be yet.

I'm interested in this, but my one character idea is a self-taught doctor with the Mera Mera no Mi, which would be against your rules and overpowered for someone just beginning anyway. Actually, I could remove the devil's fruit and have him acquire the fruit later, but really it would just depend on what the needs of the roleplay are.