Hello! I'm so excited to see that other people are into running this game. In an effort to compare notes and improve our collective times, I wanted to start this thread (at least as a starting point). I'm just going to toss out some thoughts to get things going - feel free to respond, ask questions, add new ideas, whatever!

• The only real two "skips" we know about so far are 1) the dialogue break right after going underground, and 2) jumping onto the platform in the hall of seekers (to drop the crystal smasher) and avoid having to grab the gate key.

1. I've tried skipping other dialogue throughout the game in a similar manner (but haven't tested all of it - this is on my to-do list), but so far the only other spot that I've found that works is the Right Tunnel dialogue, just before you take the leap of faith. Unfortunately, the path across the gap doesn't become available until after she finishes talking so it doesn't provide any benefit (that I've found).

2. I'm not sure if the lack of invisible walls here is an isolated location, but I'm curious if there are other spots that one could simply jump around to skip. Nothing comes to mind at the moment, but I'd be curious to know if there are any candidates that could be tested.

• I'd love to hear strategies for the Mastermind key puzzle, and maybe see if there's a way to practice it. I got lucky on my timed run and got it first try, but in practice I was routinely having to do 2, 3, or even 4 rounds to get it (essentially just having to wait until I got an easy one). This is only one of two RNG puzzles (the other being the Simon game in the Mechanics room, which good ol' paper and pencil take care of, no problem), so might be worth optimizing.

• The potion you make from the "purple grape" (as I call it) in the garden gives a wicked speed boost. I opted to make and use it for my run, as it can be done with little added time while other plants are being juiced and/or when the test tube is being fillled, but it's really only this once that it makes sense to make it. I used it between firing the battery core mold and getting back to the mine to the empty it, but there might be a better place to use it (I tried making one and carrying it underground with me, as I wanted to see if it would speed up the super slow leap of faith walk across the chasm, but it seems like the game clears your inventory and gives you back just the items you need when you go down. This is why you end up with the blue torch, even if you never picked it up above ground).

Would love to hear other thoughts!