Idea: There are 4 pools for drops, of which B is scheduled to drop from the completion of Story Arcs.
Situation: Many people with lvl 50 characters have already completed the story arcs required to have access/chance at Pool B.
Problem: Find a way to give lvl 50 characters a chance at receiving rewards from pool B, without disturbing Pools A, C and D and without having to recreate the idea of Pool B in a very complex way.
Possible Solution: Given that the completion of a Story Arc also rewards a player with a souvenir, why not make a system that scans a hero ONCE upon logging in, counts the number of souvenirs they have, and then awards them with 1 piece of salvage from Pool B for every souvenir.
Along with this, find a way to allow story arcs that have been skipped from outleveled contacts, to be accessible to higher level characters if they go back and speak to that contact and if they have an open spot for a story arc. Granted, they WON'T get XP or INFLUENCE from the arc and it won't be a challenge, but the opportunity that many feel is being taken away will be given back and in the end, they will be able to receive a reward from Pool B at the end of it. It's not Flashback, but it is an opportunity regardless.
- Apologies if this has been suggested elsewhere, the thread was too long to read >.< -
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I actually wanted to go with Drops II: Drops Harder
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*sniff sniff*
Hmm. A faint odor of a positronic suit, there. Must be my imagination.
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No way, I would have gone with Drops II: Attack of the Drops.
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LIES!!
Positron is teh mad doctor!
The City of Heroes Community is a special one and I will always look fondly on my times arguing, discussing and playing with you all. Thanks and thanks to the developers for a special experience.
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Who said it has to be small chance from a TF/trial? Why can't it be small chance from anything (killing mobs/mission complete/etc)?
Why the need to have any item linked to specific events like this?
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Because the Evil Doctor says that they want four pools to work through. Currently, that's enemy defeats, task forces, trials, and story arcs. They aren't willing to get rid of a pool at this point.
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I understand that, and I'm saying I think it's a crap idea and it's why this thread has 1000 posts with different complaints and desires.
Restricting any of this to specific events is a bad idea, IMO.
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This is as good as any for my reply. Two points about Story Arc Only Drops and why it's a very bad idea. First is I like the chance to EARN my rewards. I LIKE to play. I'm one of the group that doesn't mind grinding (within reason) to get something I want.
The second point is a lession in Economics. 39 Story Arcs in CoH, 12 Characters per account on a Server, X number of Story Arc Recipie drops. 39 * 12 * X * # of accounts. Now this number is going to be must smaller as a lot of characters have out leveled or completed Story Arcs. And not all X drops are avaiable in all level ranges. Bottom line is you've created a finite supply of a rare item. Demand will be large by the very nature of the beast. IF the Iventions for the drops are "goods" things player want demands multiples (x 5 to be exact as that's the cap IO benefit limit). And more demands because characters are tapped out of Story Arcs (fully or partially). To sum it up: Low Supply, High Demand.
In order for my level 50 to get those things, I would have to buy them via the auction house. IF as I suspect they are very "desired" for the power gamers, I'll be competing against active SG that have millions or billions of Influency at their disposal. Don't think it won't happen, it will.
And a third thing I just realized, you'd be creating a new type of gold farmer. Dispostable character to get the story arc drops.
Anything that has a small supply of rewards to characters is a very bad thing. It's rare loot in a game where there you state you don't want it. And don't get me wrong finite supply can be a good thing when not applied to characters. The Items of Power from the SG Trial. It provides a good incentive for SG's to raid.
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I suspect we'll get -some- kind of rough map to follow for this stuff, though it may not be Dev-provided or available during the first week. 
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I actually wanted to go with Drops II: Drops Harder
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*sniff sniff*
Hmm. A faint odor of a positronic suit, there. Must be my imagination.
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No way, I would have gone with Drops II: Attack of the Drops.
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If you'd said Drops II: Secret of the Drops I would've given you so many bonus points. 
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Drops II: The Drop Strikes Back. Much better Star Wars movie to reference IMHO.
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But bad nerd form. You can't use "The Drop Strikes Back" until we get to the Drop V post.
The City of Heroes Community is a special one and I will always look fondly on my times arguing, discussing and playing with you all. Thanks and thanks to the developers for a special experience.
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39 Story Arcs in CoH
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Where is this 39-40 arcs for hero coming from?
36 regular arcs
16 zone specific arcs (Hollows, Faultline, Striga, Croatoa)
9 Kheldian arcs.
Not mentioning the Shards....
Triumph: White Succubus: 50 Ill/Emp/PF Snow Globe: 50 Ice/FF/Ice Strobe: 50 PB Shi Otomi: 50 Ninja/Ninjistu/GW Stalker My other characters
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I suspect we'll get -some- kind of rough map to follow for this stuff, though it may not be Dev-provided or available during the first week.
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I actually wanted to go with Drops II: Drops Harder
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*sniff sniff*
Hmm. A faint odor of a positronic suit, there. Must be my imagination.
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No way, I would have gone with Drops II: Attack of the Drops.
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If you'd said Drops II: Secret of the Drops I would've given you so many bonus points.
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Drops II: The Drop Strikes Back. Much better Star Wars movie to reference IMHO.
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But bad nerd form. You can't use "The Drop Strikes Back" until we get to the Drop V post.
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Unless the prequel never happened. They never happened! I know of no prequels! There are only 3 Star Wars, A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Laughter of the Ewokes... er, Return of the Jedi. >.> Why do I ignore the prequels? 1) Podraces, 2) Force = Space Measles?, and 3) 'Anakin, I have the High Ground'.
/end thread derailment
=. .=
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I suspect we'll get -some- kind of rough map to follow for this stuff, though it may not be Dev-provided or available during the first week.
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I actually wanted to go with Drops II: Drops Harder
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*sniff sniff*
Hmm. A faint odor of a positronic suit, there. Must be my imagination.
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No way, I would have gone with Drops II: Attack of the Drops.
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If you'd said Drops II: Secret of the Drops I would've given you so many bonus points.
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Drops II: The Drop Strikes Back. Much better Star Wars movie to reference IMHO.
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But bad nerd form. You can't use "The Drop Strikes Back" until we get to the Drop V post.
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Unless the prequel never happened. They never happened! I know of no prequels! There are only 3 Star Wars, A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Laughter of the Ewokes... er, Return of the Jedi. >.> Why do I ignore the prequels? 1) Podraces, 2) Force = Space Measles?, and 3) 'Anakin, I have the High Ground'.
/end thread derailment
=. .=
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Look the prophet Lucas might have gotten a bit batty in his old age, but we have to count the prequels! 
You should like an infidel.
The City of Heroes Community is a special one and I will always look fondly on my times arguing, discussing and playing with you all. Thanks and thanks to the developers for a special experience.
You must focus upon the purpose of the thread in order to use it's power. Let go of all the petty bickering and thread jacking and the way will open before you.
Story Arcs I created:
Every Rose: (#17702) Villainous vs Legacy Chain. Forget Arachnos, join the CoT!
Cosplay Madness!: (#3643) Neutral vs Custom Foes. Heroes at a pop culture convention!
Kiss Hello Goodbye: (#156389) Heroic vs Custom Foes. Film Noir/Hardboiled detective adventure!
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Now I hear you guys... you all seem to dislike the Story Arc aspect of this system. I've had some discussions with the team yesterday about what we could do instead, and still keep the flavor of the four pool system, because having the extra three pools allows us to not only reward risk/reward, but time/reward as well. Takes longer to do a Task Force? Here's a nice bonus you can't get anywhere else. Finish the Respec trial, but already have all your Respecs? Here's a nice reward that carries with it some good inherent value.
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WHY STORY ARC EXCLUSIVES ARE BROKEN:
Because they are the ONLY thing you can't repeat. The only. Think about everything else on the list posted by Dr. Brainstorm:
TF - Any character 12+ can do Positron's TF (if a hero, obviously) ANY TIME THEY WANT.
Trials - Any one 24+ can do a respec trial ANY TIME THEY WANT.
Killing mobs of all levels - With exemplar you can do this ANY TIME YOU WANT.
You might need a team, that's OK. But story arcs can only be done once. Fix that or no recipes be available only from story arcs.
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Problem:
I'm against story arc exclusive rewards because I have many 50's who did not go through and repeat all available story arcs. Even if a datamining operation was done, there is no way these characters could ever attain something I may or may not want for him/her.
Background:
I currently run my chars through story arcs as I like, plus badge missions, mainly for the accolades. In general, I do not bother completing the accolade as they are generally a large time sink, however all my chars have the option of getting any accolade in the future. Being unable to do the same for enhancer sets is rather annoying even to consider, as these rewards can make or break a character's maximum effectiveness [especially when compared to other players that will have these bonuses] and why I believe that there should be no exclusive rewards tied to unrepeatable content.
Possible solution:
A simple solution would be to make the story arc reward pool shared with the same pools for that level, you would have trial/arc, task-strike/arc, enemies, arcs. In this way specific arc rewards can be guaranteed but are also available as a random award from other sources.
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Instead we are looking into other options to get you the Pool B choice so level 50s don't feel gimped.
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Now, here's a crazy, wild idea, and it may in fact have never been thought of before. It's just insane.
But you know, the people who never did the story arcs with their characters can't go back and do them one way or the other, and I'm thinking that when I9 hits, they're maybe going to have to live with the possibility that they'll have to get certain recipe drops from Wentworth's.
However, people did do story arcs prior to I9. Those people not only can't go back to do them again for the drop rewards, but also happen to have a record of having done said arcs. A long standing record, that up till now has harbored no useful purpose but to recap the arcs on which they've gone.
That's right; I'm talking about Souvenirs.
Now -- and bear with me here, like I said, crazy talkin' -- it would seem to me, that if you have the Souvenir for a particular arc, you should still be able to be rewarded for having done it in terms of getting a drop. So, I wonder if it would be possible, given the methods by which drops can be earned, if there could be a high-level group of enemies, or a repeatable mission, wherein defeation or completion could be rewarded by the possibility of a drop corresponding to any arc for which you have the Souvenir on your person?
I know. Insane, right?
Just a thought.
My Ninja Turtles reference was way less confusing. ;_;
DJs for The Cape Radio
Makes videos & podcasts about reviewing toys, covering conventions, and more at Vangelus.ca
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Minus 1 billion coolness points for not calling the thread Drops II: Electric Boogaloo. 
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I actually wanted to go with Drops II: Drops Harder
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Either is fine, as long as the next one is called Drops 3D
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* Some of the sets (the rarer ones), have parts of them that are only attainable by completing a Story Arc.
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And this little bit is why so many of us who have been here the longest are having problems. As has already been stated. My main hero, my lvl 50 who I have continued to play almost two years after he reached 50, cannot get any of these parts. Unless I (A) just buy them, or (B) roll an alt to farm Story Arcs for them.
May I suggest an alternative?
Why not just allow 50s (who exempt down to the proper level) to have access to those old story arcs they have outleveled? True, my main has completed most of the arcs that were in existence when he was growing up, but there are several others that were created after he reached 50. I personally would be quite happy to get the chance to do these arcs for their souvenirs, and for the Inventions System parts as well. I believe that this solution would make most of us long-timers quite happy. It would also quell the predictable-and-currently-rising outcry that were hearing now.
Another alternative:
Data mine. If I have completed 20 story arcs on a character, then the next time I log him on, he gets 20 Invention System parts appropriate to those arcs. Since arc completion = souvenir, this might not be too difficult to do. (Hopefully not, anyway.)
But given a choice, I personally would prefer the first alternative.
EDIT: Of course, this all has been addressed. But I'd STILL like a flashback system to come out in I10 or I11! 
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
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I am listening to your ideas, but a Flashback system is simply not something we can implement in a timeframe you would all be happy with.
Instead we are looking into other options to get you the Pool B choice so level 50s don't feel gimped.
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It's not just L50's it's all characters that have finished previous story arcs and the higher level they get the more this impacts them.
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Ok I quoted this from page 5 and we're on page 7 now as I'm posting. But this is a point a lot of people may not be getting. Story Arc-only IO rewards don't just hurt 50s. They hurt 20s, 30s, and 40s as well. A level 20 can't go back and do the Bonefire arc, for one of the level 10 IO sets they want. A level 30 can't go back and do the Striga arcs for one of the level 20 IO sets they want. A level 40 can't do the Croatoa arcs for one of the level 30 IO sets they want.
Story arc IO rewards are bad for everyone except level 1s. And even then, they are bad for support characters who many times just team up to help others with their arcs. Unless everyone gets a story arc IO reward for the last mission in the arc? But as they currently don't get a souvenier or arc xp bonus, I'm not sure. Has this part been clarified?
But anyway. Sign me up with EvilGeko. Flashback. LivinigHellfire has a topic linked in his sig discussing the system:
Level 50 Content
It has some discussion of possible flashback stuff. Although as mentioned here (and there too I think), even flashback won't help us for arcs we have already completed. Unless flashback lets you redo arcs as well. Which I think could be very fun. There are some arcs that are better written, have a better AV/EB, have special modified tilesets, or are just plain more fun than others.
Yes, I saw the "flashback couldn't be implemented in a timely fashion" post. But it still merits some discussion. It might honestly be the best solution to the devs keeping their drop table, and to the players' constant requests to "give 50s more to do" all wrapped into one.
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That's great. No, really, I'm not being sarcastic. It's just that toddlers don't stick to a schedule very well and it's hard to target stuff when they keep trying to make my character jump.
Without sounding anti-men, I really think it's a guy thing. Buttons, that is. Guys like buttons. Little ones like toys with buttons, older ones like bigger toys with buttons... like cars and boats... The little ones like cars and boats too, just Hot Wheels instead of Dodge.
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Lady A,
Thanks to the Elite Boss change to missions, it's now fairly easy to solo a TF. First, gather a minimum-size team for the TF you want to do. Start the TF. Have everyone quit the team except for you and one other character. Have that one character other than you log off. Now you can run the TF solo with appropriate difficulty spawns. As long as one other character remains on the team (even logged off) the TF can be completed.
If you're in a SG, you'll probably find someone with an alt they'd be willing to keep logged off for a day or two or however long it takes for you to finish the TF solo.
Just an idea. Give the kids a hug for me.
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
ive been looking through this thread and a few times i saw people mention safeguard/mayhem missions. heres something i was thinking about. at 50 you automatically receive a new broker who works exactly the same as the regular ones except he has a 2nd bar. that bar fills a small amount for each safeguard/mayhem mission you complete. once full you would go back to the contact and claim your recipe. im sure it wouldnt be all that hard to make the amount of time to fill the bar as long as completing a story arc. This would prevent them from having to find a way to use the flashback system, prevent 50s from those parts, etc. just my 2 inf. im looking forward to inventions more and more everytime i read about them.
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Remember, Task/Strike Forces and Trials are infinitly repeatable. Story Arcs are not. There is a difference between choosing not to do Task/Strike Forces and Trials and not being allowed to do story arcs because you have already outleved every single one of them.
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It's... it's like... it's like the ISOLATOR BADGE!!!
How about if a random story arc appeared in the tram station in RV every 45 minutes or so...??
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
It's not just level 50's that're facing troubles from the nonrepeatable nature of story arcs. The solution should not focus solely or exclusively upon them.
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Please keep in mind this section of the Original Post:
Now again, I must stress, the majority of sets, including entire complete sets come from simply defeating enemies. All the costume piece and temp power recipes come from defeating enemies. There are Rare recipes (ones that have a worse chance to drop than others) in Pool A (the defeating enemies pool) as well.
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I think that most of us are assuming that the most rare recipes will also be the most useful or powerful recipes as well.
I think that most of us expressing concerns about our 50's not having access to story arcs are thinking about how to best min/max our favorite characters using the new IO system. But not allowing us access to the most rare parts, and therefore the most powerful complet sets, is a non-starter for most of us.
At least this is what I feel. And I'm guessing/assuming/reading between the lines that others feel the same way.
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
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Lady A,
Thanks to the Elite Boss change to missions, it's now fairly easy to solo a TF. First, gather a minimum-size team for the TF you want to do. Start the TF. Have everyone quit the team except for you and one other character. Have that one character other than you log off. Now you can run the TF solo with appropriate difficulty spawns. As long as one other character remains on the team (even logged off) the TF can be completed.
If you're in a SG, you'll probably find someone with an alt they'd be willing to keep logged off for a day or two or however long it takes for you to finish the TF solo.
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Except the AV's in task forces do not downgrade to EB's even if you're solo.
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Now I hear you guys... you all seem to dislike the Story Arc aspect of this system. I've had some discussions with the team yesterday about what we could do instead, and still keep the flavor of the four pool system, because having the extra three pools allows us to not only reward risk/reward, but time/reward as well.
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How about adding the much asked for Flashback system where we can go back and do story arcs that we missed or even do them again to get the rewards that are added to them after we had completed the,. You just have to add a code to see if the person alread has the badge and such and only reward the parts that he doesn't have yet.
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OK people, we need to breath in and breath out. Missing out of the story arc recipes is not that big of a deal if only a small ammount of exclusives are in there.
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It is a big deal if the best loot requires parts from the story arcs.
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We still have no idea how things are distributed.
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And we don't want to wait until the last minute, when it's too late to do anything about it, to learn that our favorite 50's are getting screwed.
I'm not crying "DOOOOOOM!" I'm saying that this is a very legitimate concern. One obviously shared by a great many of the longest-playing customers.
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
How likely would this scenario become more commonplace if storyarc drops remain as-is?
PUG team forms, leader goes through his storyarc...after completing the 2nd to last mission, leader says..."Sorry gang, my wife/brother/dad tells me to get off the computer...cya later thanks for team..../quit"
Not sure about it but i do know i've seen this happen in the past when it's just souvenir and SO drops.
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I'm seeing a lot of posts where people are suggesting that implementing the Flashback system should be used to open up Start Arc drops to level 50s. Guys, I think it's safe to say that ain't happenin'. There's a fair amount of code that would likely need to be added to make Flashbacks a reality, and Cryptic seems to be pretty frugal with its man-hours. Use the KISS priniciple, here. The simpler the solution, the more likely it will be considered.
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I actually wanted to go with Drops II: Drops Harder
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*sniff sniff*
Hmm. A faint odor of a positronic suit, there. Must be my imagination.
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No way, I would have gone with Drops II: Attack of the Drops.
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Edited because I repeated what the poster above me said lol
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