Editing Drop System

[[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],

'''Tai Yasue:''' Well, on our previous Kingdom Hearts, Birth by Sleep, it centered around Aqua, Ventus, and Terra. You had to actually finish the story before starting a new one. It sort of felt like they were separate stories, in a way. This time, Nomura I think wanted us to make it into a sort of united story. There are two characters, but it's a united experience. We wanted to add a particular thrill, I think, the thrill of… If you drop during a boss battle, for example, you have to switch characters. So there's a little bit of a time limit. I think it was a little bit more thrilling. Another thing we wanted to add was the bonus relay system, we wanted Sora and Riku to cooperate. For example, by playing Sora and gaining points, you could give bonuses to your next character, Riku. There was a strategic depth to it, I think. I thought that made it interesting as well.</ref>

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.

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

[[File:Bonus Time KH3D.png|thumb|The Bonus Time counter in ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''.]]

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.

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.

===List of Drop Bonuses===

====Default Drop Bonuses====

{|border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 align="center" style="width:700px"

|-style="{{style|ddd|a}}"

!rowspan="2" style="width:45%"|Bonus

!colspan="3" style="width:15%"|DP Cost

!rowspan="2" style="width:40%"|Unlocked

|-style="{{style|ddd|b}}"

|{{nihongo|'''[[Link Accelerator]]'''|リンクブースト|<br>Rinku Būsuto|lit. "Link Boost"}} || 30 || 80 || 200 || Defeat the [[Lord Kyroo]].

|{{nihongo|'''[[Drop Decelerator]]'''|ドロップスピードダウン|<br>Doroppu Supīdo Daun|lit. "Drop Speed Down"}}<ref>International and HD versions only.</ref> || 10 || 40 || 100 || Save [[Shiki]] from the Dream Eaters.

|{{nihongo|'''[[Flowmotion Turbo]]'''|フリーフローブースト|<br>Furīfurō Būsuto|lit. "Freeflow Boost"}} || 30 || 80 || 200 || Defeat the [[Spellican]] at [[Symphony of Sorcery]].

|{{nihongo|'''[[Attack Gain]]'''|アタックブースト|<br>Atakku Būsuto|lit. "Attack Boost"}} || 30 || 80 || 200 || Available from the beginning.

|{{nihongo|'''[[Magic Gain]]'''|マジックブースト|<br>Majikku Būsuto|lit. "Magic Boost"}} || 30 || 80 || 200 || Available from the beginning.

|{{nihongo|'''[[Defense Gain]]'''|ガードブースト|<br>Gādo Būsuto|lit. "Guard Boost"}} || 30 || 80 || 200 || Defeat [[Rinzler]].

|{{nihongo|'''[[Affinity Gain]]'''|ブリードブースト|<br>Burīdo Būsuto|lit. "Breed Boost"}} || 10 || 40 || 100 || Defeat the [[Wargoyle]] with Riku.

|{{nihongo| '''[[Spirit Auto-Life]]'''|スピリットリレイズ|<br>Supiritto Rireizu|lit. "Spirit Reraise"}} || 10 || — || — || Defeat the bosses summoned by [[Spellican]] at [[Traverse Town]].

 

====Random Drop Bonuses====

{{tab|o-center}}{{tab|Sora}}

{|border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 align="center" style="width:700px; text-align:center"

|-style="{{style|ddd|a}}"

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

!rowspan="2" style="width:8%"|DP Cost

!colspan="8"|Shop Level

|-style="{{style|ddd|b}}"

!style="width:9%"|1

!style="width:9%"|2

!style="width:9%"|3

!style="width:9%"|4

!style="width:9%"|5

!style="width:9%"|6

!style="width:9%"|7

!style="width:9%"|8

{|border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 align="center" style="width:700px; text-align:center"

|-style="{{style|ddd|a}}"

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

!rowspan="2" style="width:8%"|DP Cost

!colspan="8"|Shop Level

|-style="{{style|ddd|b}}"

!style="width:9%"|1

!style="width:9%"|2

!style="width:9%"|3

!style="width:9%"|4

!style="width:9%"|5

!style="width:9%"|6

!style="width:9%"|7

!style="width:9%"|8