I posted some suggestions a while back when this forum first started, and I've been thinking about some more ideas for the mod, especially in terms of world-building. I'm not sure how far along you are with the porting, but here are some fresh suggestions that could add some interesting layers to your server's world:
Flag Claiming: One of the earlier ideas was about having flags that players could use to claim land, sort of like staking your territory with your crew's jolly roger or the marines' flag. It's a fantastic concept, proposed by D, and it got me thinking about how we could expand on it. Having NPCs spawn in these claimed areas and considering them our home base would be amazing. It could lead to players creating their own islands, each with its own backstory and lore. I know you mentioned considering it, so it would be awesome if we could get confirmation on this.
Custom Land Names: Regarding my previous point, what if we could name the lands we claim? It would be cool if, when you or someone else steps onto our island, a pop-up text displays the island's name. It adds a personal touch to our territories.
Dynamic Civilians: Now, I understand this might be a big ask, but how about introducing civilian NPCs with needs? They could need houses, food, and even contribute to the city by mining, trading with other nations, and paying taxes. I'm aware of the MineColonies mod doing something similar, but it's a bit buggy and doesn't always play nice with other mods. It does work well in versions like 1.19.2 or 1.20.1, so we'll have to wait and see for your port. And if it does work, a custom texture pack for One Piece themed civilians would be more than enough.
In-Game Newspaper: To enhance the immersive aspect, what do you think about having a simple in-game newspaper system? A weekly journal that keeps players updated on bounties, faction-related events, and player interactions. It's a small detail but can add depth to the world.
Den Den Mushi Voice Compatibility: Taking you back to my first post, making the Den Den Mushi compatible with the Simple Voice Chat mod could take communication on the server to another level and make it feel way more realistic.
While combat-related content like Devil Fruits is important, let's not forget about the world-building aspects that can make playing on the server with friends a truly immersive and enjoyable experience.
I hope this isn't too lengthy, but I wanted to provide a clear picture of these suggestions.