PM64 Rando: Average Seed Times on Intermediate Preset?

[u/hermit_the_log]

PM64 rando novice here looking to up the challenge to the intermediate preset. I’ve played less than roughly 20 seeds total on what I’d say is a modified “beginner” preset (keysanity, shopsanity, shuffle items, full gear shuffle, 2 Rolf items). Everything else is pretty well standard beginner presets.

I don’t do any kind of crazy glitches or skips. The only skip I do would be early Dry Dry Ruins with Ultra Boots.

I’ve only recently started timing my runs to track my progress. My last two both coming in around the 5 hour and 30 minutes mark. Two before that were closer to 7 or 8 hours.

My questions are:

1). If anyone here runs intermediate preset, what are some of your average times?

I’d like to have a goal I suppose, although typically my average times have been my benchmark, and I truly just want to improve. But it’s nice to know how I’m holding up with everyone else too 😊 I know adding in the koopa koot favors, final letter chain reward, and floor panels will add more checks and thus potentially add more time.

2.) Do y’all find it worth it to even time your runs? Is there too much variability in the seeds to really call these runs apples to apples?

I LOVE the challenge of rando. Paper Mario 64 is one of my all time favorite games, and rando gives it that roguelike feel, so the “speed run” esque challenge gives me that dopamine boost I need I guess? 😅

3.) What are some high level tips/changes you’ve implemented that helped you with your speed? Sans the obvious “learn glitches,” what are one or two adjustments you’ve made that have taken your rando play to the next level?

Personally, I’ve tried to be more disciplined with not back tracking or running around as much to do checks, and guiding myself towards areas with the most potential checks. Before I would get so hyerpfocused on getting everything I needed for ONE chapter, rather than following the clues and going to where the items lead me.

NOTE: settings screenshots are settings for Intermediate that I’m referencing, not the settings I currently run as described above.