The Chinese name thing...

I don't believe the characters have 'real names'.  Xian Pu and Mu Tsu
are merely names made up by fanfiction writers who wanted to adapt the
bathroom products into things that might actually be Chinese names.
That said, I believe Richard Lawson uses 'Khu Lon'.  That might work.

No...they definitely have real names.  You have to remember that
Takahashi
Rumiko is a VERY punny manga artist; it is neccessary to ask, "Why is
this
name chosen?  She chose it...there MUST be a reason!"  Here is a quote
from
"Amazing Heroes" May 15, 1989

"in fact, one
character (Shan Pu) has a name that involves a three-level pun in
English, Japanese, and Chinese!  A translator's nightmare ...."

2. The fic involves a heavy Western influence because of the basic

premise.

I intend to include several Western conventions like the drug culture,
Slack, counterculture and excessive violent crime in the story. Is this

a

sin against the basic idea of the Ranmaverse, which is mostly humorous?

Other people have done it, so if you want to, go right ahead.  Just try
to keep the Ranma characters *reactions* to these issues consistent with
their characterization.  For instance, Ranma would probably view a
Western "slacker" with the same loathing he shows for his father's
laziness.  He probably wouldn't be as nice about it either.

Right.  No story is made of simple action, but of reactions to actions.
So long as they are in line with the characters, I don't think the use
of
more "western" attributes of society and their incorporation into the
fic will be a problem.

3. I've noticed that Ranma seems to have, in general, a morning theme.
Everything happens in the morning, and evenings are marked mostly by
everybody going to bed. If I switch that theme to evenings and nights,

will

Ranma be so drastically altered that I might as well be using some

other

universe?

I think compared to the other stuff you're planning, a morning to
evening switch is very small potatoes indeed.

You know, I really don't notice this...or at least I don't feel this is
consistent through the anime...not sure about the manga, haven't read
enough.

Vincent DIamante
a.k.a. Sklathill