This guide is mainly for RWT (one person, one item) Party Room drops. For a Drop Party (many players), try this thread: http://www.sythe.org/showthread.php?p=3628354
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
I How the balloon system works.
II Testing it yourself
III Drop Party strategy
IV RWT strategy when others show up
V Other
VI End
VII End Two
(The table of contents is about as useful as a tire pump in a canoe and is added for those who can't read anything that doesn't have one.)
I - HOW THE BALLOON SYSTEM WORKS:
This is how the balloon system works, regarding where items appear:

(This picture has no practical use and is put here for those who "zOMG add pics!" to every guide that doesn't have any.)
Items do NOT get assigned to specific balloons. Items get assigned randomly to the POPPING of balloons.
Here is what the Party Room system does, once the lever is pulled:
1) If the total market value is 50,000 or more, an alert is sent out over the world, and a timer (based on the amount) is set.
2) Multiples of any item (arrows, runes, gold, lobsters, etc.) may or may not be broken down into sub-groups and noted if non-stackable.
3) As each balloon is popped, the system decides randomly if something will appear on the floor. The fewer people in the room, the higher the probability of a pop leaving an item on the floor.
4) Whatever's put on the floor is randomly chosen from what's still available in the chest.
II - TESTING IT YOURSELF
If you want to test this for yourself, go to a quiet world and put five different runes into the chest, then pull the lever. You can stand close to the chest, far away from the chest, or walk around the room and pop balloons randomly. 90% of the time, you'll have all five items within 15 balloon pops, no matter where you pop them.
III - DROP PARTY STRATEGY
The strategy is simple: Try to stand on a square that nobody else is standing on. Then click like crazy once the balloons start falling. Your hope is that you'll get an early balloon and that something will be in it. If you want a bit better chance, you can try to walk/run to a square you think one of the first balloons is going to fall on and click on it as fast as you can.
It's still all luck, and since hundreds of people show up for the big drops, you're still going to be shut out more often than you get something. All you're trying to do is give yourself the best possible chance to get something.
IV - RWT STRATEGY WHEN OTHERS SHOW UP:
If somebody shows up, try to be in an area away from the other player(s) and click on balloons as fast as you can. Don't wait around to see if your item appears: you'll have some time to pick it up before your competition can. Move from square to square, clicking on balloons as fast as you can, and keep an eye out for your item.
V - OTHER
There isn't any "other" section. I just put it here to make the Table of Contents look cooler.
VI - End
Duh, this is the end of the guide
VII - End Two
That's all there is, you hamburgers! Beat it!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
I How the balloon system works.
II Testing it yourself
III Drop Party strategy
IV RWT strategy when others show up
V Other
VI End
VII End Two
(The table of contents is about as useful as a tire pump in a canoe and is added for those who can't read anything that doesn't have one.)
I - HOW THE BALLOON SYSTEM WORKS:
This is how the balloon system works, regarding where items appear:

(This picture has no practical use and is put here for those who "zOMG add pics!" to every guide that doesn't have any.)
Items do NOT get assigned to specific balloons. Items get assigned randomly to the POPPING of balloons.
Here is what the Party Room system does, once the lever is pulled:
1) If the total market value is 50,000 or more, an alert is sent out over the world, and a timer (based on the amount) is set.
2) Multiples of any item (arrows, runes, gold, lobsters, etc.) may or may not be broken down into sub-groups and noted if non-stackable.
3) As each balloon is popped, the system decides randomly if something will appear on the floor. The fewer people in the room, the higher the probability of a pop leaving an item on the floor.
4) Whatever's put on the floor is randomly chosen from what's still available in the chest.
II - TESTING IT YOURSELF
If you want to test this for yourself, go to a quiet world and put five different runes into the chest, then pull the lever. You can stand close to the chest, far away from the chest, or walk around the room and pop balloons randomly. 90% of the time, you'll have all five items within 15 balloon pops, no matter where you pop them.
III - DROP PARTY STRATEGY
The strategy is simple: Try to stand on a square that nobody else is standing on. Then click like crazy once the balloons start falling. Your hope is that you'll get an early balloon and that something will be in it. If you want a bit better chance, you can try to walk/run to a square you think one of the first balloons is going to fall on and click on it as fast as you can.
It's still all luck, and since hundreds of people show up for the big drops, you're still going to be shut out more often than you get something. All you're trying to do is give yourself the best possible chance to get something.
IV - RWT STRATEGY WHEN OTHERS SHOW UP:
If somebody shows up, try to be in an area away from the other player(s) and click on balloons as fast as you can. Don't wait around to see if your item appears: you'll have some time to pick it up before your competition can. Move from square to square, clicking on balloons as fast as you can, and keep an eye out for your item.
V - OTHER
There isn't any "other" section. I just put it here to make the Table of Contents look cooler.
VI - End
Duh, this is the end of the guide
VII - End Two
That's all there is, you hamburgers! Beat it!

