Fatal gaming flaw number 1. Never encourage exposition and history from the GM. It's a floodgate you cannot close.

Fatal gaming flaw number 2. Everything you tell the players can and will be used against you.

Fatal gaming flaw number 3: Never turn the DM's own setting or plot against him, because the DM never reveals everything- for every point the DM reveals that you can use against him, there are 3 related points to make your life hell if you do.

i do that. but on the other hand, the "solution" to wathever problem i pull out is usualy in the exposition or backstory. very well hidden in the exposition.
anyway, the crazy stuff i pull out are more often solved by coming up with equally crazy plans. i reward crazy but clever plan.

Also, the subtle hint that the strawhat crew come work as chefs is going to go right over their heads.

Yeah, it's in bold and everything and none of them are gonna notice it at all. (and don't you mean work as waiters?)

Just a reminder to the author,the manga and the anime have different reasons for the loss of Zeff's leg. The manga has it as a little more... hard core.

The anime implies that he rips it off by sheer force, they just don't show it. That's pretty hardcore IMO.

I'm thinking the manga *why* is hard to top for hardcore. Like Ancient Mariner hardcore.

GM is squeeing for "This is the happiest session of my campaign."

Cory did'nt even notice that there was a sidequest here. All he heard is "strong characters to fight"