Editing Drop System

{{Game|DDD|DHD}}

[[File:Drop Gauge KH3D.png|thumb|Sora's Drop Gauge.]]

The {{nihongo|'''Drop System'''|}} is a game mechanic in ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''. It allows the player to switch control between [[Sora]] and [[Riku]], allowing each to progress independently through the game. One character is presumed to be "asleep" while the other is active. The player will drop into the next character once the {{nihongo|'''Drop Gauge'''|ドロップゲージ|Doroppu Gēji}} is depleted, or they can drop manually by tapping the "Drop" button that appears on the World Map, in the main menu, in the pause menu, or at a [[Save Point]].

Following an interview with Tai Yasue, the Drop System was developed to increase the thrill of the game and to keep Sora and Riku's stories united, in contrast to ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'', where the player has to finish a story before going on to the next one.<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/03/the-making-of-kingdom-hearts-3d-dream-drop-distance  The Making of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance],

After Riku fends off [[Beat]]'s Spirit and the other attacking [[Dream Eater]]s in the {{c|Second District|trt}}, he becomes overwhelmingly sleepy and loses consciousness. When he wakes up, he finds [[Joshua]] and Beat have gone.

Xigbar and Young Xehanort corner Sora in [[The World That Never Was]] and send him into a dream. After Xehanort shows Sora visions of his meeting [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]], Sora and Ansem entering the [[Secret Place]] before the [[Destiny Islands]] fell into darkness, and Sora's visits to the different incarnations of [[Traverse Town]], Sora suddenly passes out while chasing an illusion of [[Pluto]].

{{canon

|If Riku tries to approach the [[Castle That Never Was]] before Sora defeats [[Xemnas]], he will always drop off to sleep.

}}

The Drop Gauge has three differently-colored bars that continuously deplete, one by one, from blue to yellow to pink. The gauge's speed is indicated by the multiplier that accompanies it. Once the third bar empties, {{nihongo|'''Bonus Time'''|ボーナスタイム|Bōnasu Taimu}} begins, and the speed multiplier is replaced with a final 30 second countdown. During that time, the Attack command drops HP, Munny or Droplet prizes for each hit landed on a target. Droplets also appear more often and more abundantly from enemies. After the 30 seconds is up, the character will fall asleep and Drop, and player control will pass to the other character. When the player returns to the first character, play will resume where it left off. If the character drops during a boss battle, the battle will start over from scratch when they resume, as if it were a [[Game Over]].

The base drop speed depends on the current [[forecast]]: 2.0 for Risky Winds, 1.6 for Treasure Front, 1.3 for Overcast, and 1.0 for all other forecasts. Being hit by an attack that inflicts the {{c|Sleep|status}} status effect increases the gauge's speed by (duration of sleep status / 20), while coming into contact with the pink gas released from jars will increase the speed by 0.1 every 3 seconds. Guarding an attack with [[Wake-up Block]] will reduce the drop speed by 0.5, but won't become lower than the base speed. Drop speed increases can be prevented with the [[Sleep Block]] ability, and the gauge can be refilled and the drop speed reset by using [[Break Time]], [[Drop-Me-Not]]s, [[Drop-Me-Never]]s, or [[Megalixir]]s.

===Relay Bonus===

After a character drops, the {{nihongo|'''Relay Bonus'''|Bonus Relay}} screen is shown, and the player can purchase different {{nihongo|'''Drop Bonuses'''|ドロップボーナス|Doroppu Bōnasu}} with {{nihongo|'''Drop Points'''|ドロップポイント|Doroppu Pointo}}, or '''DP'''. The boosts will affect the other character's gameplay. They include reduced Drop Gauge speed, temporary stat boosts, new commands or items. Some boosts are available in three different levels after being obtained, each one with better effects, but with a higher DP cost. Any leftover DP is converted to Munny.

DP is earned during gameplay by collecting [[Droplets]] relinquished by defeated [[Nightmare]]s, collecting specific "lucky items", which are detailed on the [[Forecast]] screen, or by completing [[Link Portal]]s. The player can collect of maximum of 999 droplets per drop. The player can give the other character several bonuses depending on the amount of Droplets acquired in the last Drop and depending on what has been unlocked from Bonuses.

 

 

!rowspan="2" style="width:20%"|Bonus

 

 

Along with the Forecast, a set of portals including the Special Portal and a certain item, that if collected will grant the user a bonus in drop points, are defined during this period.

 

|The Battle Level increases by 2, and the Drop Gauge's base speed is increased to 2.0. Created Spirits have their rank increased by 1, rare Spirits are more likely to be created, and a Spirit's disposition changes faster through petting.

 

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