CiaránPixelz SMP is an upcoming pirate-themed SMP featuring superpower-giving “brews”, an impressive custom map, and endless roleplay potential. I chatted to server owner Ciarán about what’s in store, and how you can apply to join the server!

CiaránPixelz SMP is an upcoming pirate-themed server. The SMP is inspired by One Piece – which, for those unfamiliar, is a Japanese fantasy adventure series following the adventures of Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates. Originally starting as a manga in 1997, it has since expanded into a media franchise including an anime show (starting 1999) as well as a live-action adaptation for Netflix (starting 2023).
“One Piece is one of my favourite fictional series of all time,” Ciarán tells me. “I love the worldbuilding, the characters, the themes but what inspired me most in making this SMP is the powers you find in One Piece.”
Despite the clear inspiration, this isn’t just a recreation, and knowledge of the franchise isn’t essential for enjoying the SMP. “This SMP is very much our own spin on One Piece, with its own unique story and setting,” Ciarán says. “Those who haven’t experienced One Piece will understand and appreciate all of what’s going on, same as a seasoned One Piece fan!”

A storm is brewing…
Ciarán’s SMP takes the concept of One Piece’s “Devil Fruit” – fruits that grant the eater superhuman powers – and replaces them with an alternative, custom-developed consumable known as Cursed Brews. “They’re very similar to Devil Fruit in the fact they grant you powers and they remove your ability to swim,” Ciarán says. “They are very fun to play around with!”
“Each brew is unique, and the player who gets the brew will be the only person other than our developmental team to experience that brew. That’s why it’s so crucial to us that each brew is its own experience!”
On the SMP, powers granted range from powerful strength- or knockback-based abilities, to teleportation, size changes, and being able to disguise oneself as a mob.

“There are some seriously cool and complex brews, but my favourite has most certainly got to be the Brew of Thermality,” Ciarán tells me. “The premise of this brew is simple; after drinking it you master the two climates, set your enemies ablaze with fire, and send them packing with ice cold winds. It’s my favourite because it’s a blast to play with, and has a very cool aesthetic in design.”
The Brew of Thermality is unusual in that it comes with two unique forms that can be toggled between – ice and fire – each with their own move sets. “It’s a very versatile brew,” Ciarán says. “On the fire side, you can summon fireballs from your hand to take out your enemies, and set people on fire with but the touch of your hand. On the ice side? Gusts of winds that can make even the worst of landings a soft landing, or even better, you can throw your enemies off cliffs. You can also freeze people as you touch them so they’ll never get far away in a fight!”
And, despite all this, Ciarán tells me it’s one of the more mechanically simple brews on the server – which means the others are sure to be a treat.
The seven seas – and many islands – await…
Another exciting feature is the custom map, an impressive landscape created from hundreds of hours of production manpower. There are a wide range of islands to choose to settle on, and many custom buildings to discover. Serene’s Fountain is the central island, surrounded by a selection of other islands: Bonsai Path, Snowfall Peaks, The Overgrowth, Crystalled Island, The Dark Lands, Really Really Big Mushroom, Dead Man’s Bay, Stalagmite Valley, Pine Tree Grove, Isle Of Hades, and Mudded Depths. Together, these make up an archipelago known as The Keys Of Serene.
The “keys” part appears to refer to these statues found on the island, although it is not yet clear what they unlock. It seems there is a mystery afoot…

Rough seas and rocky relationships…
So what type of characters will be claiming these lands for their own? The Armada, described as “the world’s greatest military force” are colonists seeking to claim the land’s brews for themselves. This will be no mean feat however, because the archipelago is already home to the pirates – seafaring criminals that seek power, money, and glory.
“A very important thing to me is player agency, and a story that can adapt and thrive based on the player’s actions,” Ciarán says. “Because of that, we have anticipated several “ending” scenarios that may occur based on the events and what players do. Will the armada be successful in repelling the pirates from the archipelago? Or will the archipelago become a pirates haven, a true lawless land? Nothing is set in stone, and we’re very excited to adapt the overarching story to the organic events in the world led by the players on the server!”

For social features, the server has in-game proximity chat – sure to prove useful with the roleplay occurring amongst and between these two factions. In addition, there will be official server events hosted every week, as well as organic events led by the players.
“Some events exist to push the overarching story forward,” Ciarán says, “things like the Armada might launch an attack on a pirate stronghold to bring justice and law to one of the islands, and the pirates have to defend their precious booty! Other events are more light-hearted and relaxed, like a designated ceasefire results in a lovely day on the beach where both pirates and the Armada compete… in a sandcastle building contest?!”
And, if all of that isn’t quite enough to convince you, you can watch the full trailer below.
It’s a pirate’s life for me – and for you?
Applications for the server – which starts in February 2025 – are now open. You must be aged 18+ to apply.
“We’re looking for interesting personalities and people who come up with interesting schemes and ideas that we can frame events around, and come up with a really interesting narrative,” Ciarán tells me.
You can apply for the SMP through the application form here. To keep up to date with the latest news, you can follow the SMP on Twitter / X or join their Discord.