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Back up your original save and ROM before doing anything else. Generate the randomizer from a compatible Ocarina of Time 1.0 base ROM, patch the result into a separately named output file, and keep the vanilla files untouched. In Ship of Harkinian, create a save with the randomizer quest option so it receives the RAND label; use a save without the randomizer logo for vanilla play.

The safe setup in one sentence

Treat the vanilla game and the randomizer as two separate installations: one untouched ROM plus its backed-up save, and one patched ROM plus a new randomizer save. Never patch over the original ROM, never point a randomizer emulator at the only copy of your save, and keep the seed ID and spoiler log with the generated files.

  • Back up the existing cartridge save or emulator save file.
  • Keep an untouched copy of the original ROM in a clearly labeled folder.
  • Use an Ocarina of Time version 1.0 NTSC-U or NTSC-J base ROM for the standard randomizer workflow.
  • Generate a seed with a spoiler log, then patch a duplicate ROM and save the output under a new name.
  • Launch the patched ROM with a supported emulator or on the supported hardware route.
  • In Ship of Harkinian, use a RAND-labeled save for randomizer play and an untagged or MQ-tagged save for vanilla play.

What you need before generating a seed

A legally obtained base ROM

The standard Ocarina of Time Randomizer patching workflow requires version 1.0. The documented compatible regions are NTSC-U and NTSC-J. Rev A, Rev B and Master Quest images do not work directly with the standard workflow. If your dump is one of those revisions, use the project’s documented converter or downgrader route rather than trying to patch it as if it were version 1.0.

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The project README identifies Ocarina of Time 1.0 NTSC-US as its canonical input and accepts .n64 and .z64 files. The wiki’s standard setup documentation also identifies NTSC-J as compatible. These are ROM-region and revision requirements, not optional recommendations: a wrong revision is a common reason for a failed patch or a game that will not boot correctly.

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Base ROMs and related copyrighted files are not distributed by the community. Dump the cartridge or obtain the image only through a method and jurisdiction that gives you the legal right to use it.

A separate working folder

Create a folder structure that makes accidental overwriting difficult. For example:

Ocarina of Time/
  vanilla-original/
    original-rom.z64
    original-save.sra
  randomizer/
    seeds/
    patched-roms/
    spoiler-logs/
  ship-of-harkinian/
    vanilla-saves/
    rand-saves/

The names are only an example. The important safeguards are that the original ROM is never the file you patch, the original save is copied to a second location, and the randomizer output has a different filename and directory.

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A way to preserve the save data

For a cartridge workflow, the OoT Randomizer backup documentation describes a dump that produces a ROM such as THE_LEGE.Z64 and a save file such as THE_LEGE.SRA. Copy both files to another storage location before experimenting. Keep one archival copy unchanged and use a working copy for normal play.

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For an emulator, identify the emulator’s save directory and copy the relevant save file while the game is closed. Do not assume the save is stored beside the ROM: some emulators use a separate battery, SRAM or memory-card directory. After copying, open the duplicate or inspect its timestamp so you know the backup is the current one.

Step 1: Back up the vanilla ROM and save

  1. Close the game and emulator. A running emulator can still have unsaved SRAM data in memory.
  2. Copy the existing save. Put the copy on another drive or in a separate backup folder. Leave the original in place until the backup has been checked.
  3. Copy the original ROM. Mark the archival copy as “original—do not patch.” Work only from a duplicate.
  4. Record the ROM revision and region. Confirm that your working image is Ocarina of Time 1.0 NTSC-U or NTSC-J before opening the generator.
  5. Keep a recovery copy. If a patch fails, a save appears missing, or you later want an entirely clean vanilla setup, restore from these untouched files.

A patched ROM does not normally rewrite the original file, but relying on that behavior is unnecessary risk. Separate filenames and folders make the safe choice the easy choice.

Step 2: Verify the base ROM

Compatible inputs

ROM type Use in the standard workflow What to do
Ocarina of Time 1.0 NTSC-U Supported; the project README treats NTSC-US 1.0 as the canonical input. Use it as the base image and retain the original separately.
Ocarina of Time 1.0 NTSC-J Supported by the documented standard setup route. Use it as the base image if legally obtained and correctly identified.
Rev A or Rev B Not accepted directly by the standard patching workflow. Use the documented conversion or downgrading process first.
Master Quest Not accepted directly as the standard base. Use a compatible Ocarina of Time 1.0 image instead.

Do not “test” an incompatible revision by patching your only copy. If the generator rejects the file, return to the revision check and conversion documentation rather than changing extensions or renaming the file.

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Step 3: Generate the seed and retain its records

Choose settings for a first run

Open the online generator and select the Default/Beginner or Easy preset for a first seed. These presets reduce the number of unfamiliar decisions while you learn the randomizer’s logic and item progression.

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Leave Create Spoiler Log enabled. The spoiler log records the settings, item locations and entrances for that seed. You can avoid opening it during a blind run, but retaining it is valuable when you need to diagnose a problem, confirm a setting, or ask for support. Treat it as part of the seed archive, not as disposable output.

Generate a normal seed

  1. Review the preset and any individual settings you changed.
  2. Confirm that Create Spoiler Log remains enabled.
  3. Select GENERATE SEED! for normal play.
  4. Wait for the generator to finish. The setup documentation gives an operational estimate of about 15 seconds on average; actual time varies with service load and connection conditions.
  5. Save the seed ID, generated settings and spoiler log together. The unique seed ID is useful for sharing and is included in the default randomized-ROM filename.

Keep the seed ID in the filename when possible, such as oot-randomizer-seed-123456.z64. Use the exact ID supplied by the generator; do not replace it with a description that makes later matching difficult.

Step 4: Patch a duplicate ROM, never the original

  1. On the generated seed page, choose the patch or download option.
  2. Select the verified Ocarina of Time 1.0 base ROM.
  3. Allow the patcher to create a new output image.
  4. Save that output in your randomizer folder with the seed ID in its filename.
  5. Confirm that the original ROM’s timestamp and file size have not changed.
  6. Place the spoiler log beside the patched image, or in a matching seed subfolder.

The newly generated ROM is the file you launch. The original remains your vanilla fallback and should not be renamed over, moved into the patcher’s input folder, or used as a temporary output.

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Step 5: Keep vanilla and randomizer saves separate

Using a conventional emulator

Launch the patched ROM with a fresh save name or a separate save directory. Do not copy your completed vanilla SRAM into the randomizer unless you deliberately want to experiment with it and have another verified backup. The safest arrangement is one emulator profile or save directory for the vanilla ROM and another for the patched seed.

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If the emulator automatically derives the save filename from the ROM filename, the seed-specific ROM name helps keep the files apart. If it uses a shared save directory, create manual backups before changing ROMs and check which file the emulator is loading.

Using Ship of Harkinian

Ship of Harkinian keeps randomizer and vanilla saves selectable in the same port, but the quest selection matters:

  1. Open the file-select screen.
  2. Open Randomizer Settings and configure the options.
  3. Press Generate Seed.
  4. Create a new save and choose the randomizer quest option.
  5. Check the file-select screen for the RAND label next to the new save.

A save created without the randomizer logo is the vanilla route. The official instructions describe that save as having no tag or an MQ tag. Select that file when you want ordinary game progression, and select the RAND-labeled file when you want the generated seed.

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Do not delete an old save simply because you are switching modes. Create the other quest type in a separate slot and verify its label before beginning. The label is your visual check that you are not loading the wrong progression.

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Step 6: Choose where to play the patched game

Playback route Documented compatibility or strengths Important considerations
Project64 3.0 or newer Lightweight and described as easy to set up. Keep the vanilla and randomizer ROMs and save files in separate locations.
BizHawk Supported and provides Multiworld support. Its configuration and save paths still need to be backed up separately.
RetroArch Supports more platforms. It can be harder to configure, so verify the core, ROM path and save directory before starting.
Dolphin Uses Wii Virtual Console emulation and supports GameCube controller adapters. Wii Virtual Console patching has additional WAD and Wii Common Key requirements.
Original N64 or Wii Virtual Console hardware route Documented by the project wiki. Hardware-specific dumping, patching and save-management steps apply; preserve the original cartridge data first.

There is no single best emulator for every platform. Choose the route that matches your controller, operating system and willingness to configure save paths. The non-negotiable requirement is that the patched game and its save are visibly distinct from the vanilla pair.

What changes when you use standalone or source-code tools?

The online generator is the lowest-installation route: settings and seed generation happen in the browser, and you download the patched result. Standalone or source-code routes add local dependencies, including Python and/or Node.js requirements depending on the project and version. They can be useful for repeatable local generation or development, but they do not remove the need for a compatible 1.0 base ROM, a spoiler log, and separate backups.

Ship of Harkinian is a different setup model. Randomizer settings and saves are integrated into the port, so you can select vanilla or RAND files inside one application. That convenience comes with build-specific compatibility: a seed made on an older build is not guaranteed to work on a newer one.

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Updating Ship of Harkinian without breaking a run

Harbour Masters’ update documentation states that replacing Ship of Harkinian files does not affect settings or vanilla saves. That does not guarantee compatibility for every randomizer seed. Seeds created on older builds are not guaranteed to work on newer builds.

  • Finish an in-progress randomizer seed before updating whenever possible.
  • Back up the Ship of Harkinian save directory before replacing files.
  • Keep the old build available until you have confirmed that the new build opens your required saves.
  • Do not treat a successful application update as proof that an old randomizer seed remains valid.

Troubleshooting: symptoms and safe fixes

The generator rejects my ROM

  • Recheck the region and revision. Standard setup expects Ocarina of Time 1.0 NTSC-U or NTSC-J; Rev A, Rev B and Master Quest are not direct inputs.
  • Confirm that the file is a real .n64 or .z64 image rather than a renamed archive or a different game revision.
  • Use the documented converter or downgrader for an incompatible revision.
  • Retry with a duplicate working copy, never with your archival original.

The patched game will not boot

  • Verify that the patcher received the correct 1.0 base ROM.
  • Make sure the download completed and that you are launching the new output file, not a partial file or the unpatched original.
  • Check the emulator version and the project’s documented platform route.
  • Regenerate or repatch only after preserving the seed ID and spoiler log so you can identify which output belongs to which settings.

My vanilla save seems to have disappeared

  • Stop playing immediately so you do not overwrite the suspected file.
  • Close the emulator or port.
  • Check whether the emulator uses a separate save directory, SRAM file or memory-card file.
  • Restore the verified backup under the original filename only after confirming the correct ROM and save path.
  • In Ship of Harkinian, inspect the file-select labels: RAND is the randomizer save; an untagged or MQ-tagged file is the vanilla route.

I cannot tell which seed a ROM belongs to

Use the seed ID in the filename, then match it to the retained spoiler log and generated settings. If the ROM was renamed without its ID and no matching log exists, there may be no reliable way to reconstruct its exact settings from the filename alone. Make seed IDs part of your naming convention from the first run.

A repeatable checklist

  • Original ROM copied to an archival location.
  • Original save copied and verified while the game was closed.
  • Working ROM confirmed as Ocarina of Time 1.0 NTSC-U or NTSC-J.
  • Beginner or Easy preset selected for a first seed.
  • Create Spoiler Log left enabled.
  • Seed ID recorded.
  • Patched ROM saved under a new, seed-specific filename.
  • Patched ROM placed in a randomizer folder, separate from vanilla files.
  • Fresh randomizer save created rather than reusing the vanilla save.
  • Ship of Harkinian randomizer file checked for the RAND label.
  • Vanilla Ship of Harkinian file left untagged or MQ-tagged.
  • Old Ship of Harkinian build and saves retained until an in-progress seed is complete.

Why this arrangement prevents most save-loss mistakes

Randomization changes the ROM’s item placement and progression logic, while save data records your progress against the game you launched. Keeping the ROMs, save directories and quest labels distinct prevents a randomizer session from being mistaken for a vanilla session. The backup gives you a recovery path if an emulator points to an unexpected directory, a patch uses the wrong revision, or an update introduces seed incompatibility.

The project README describes proper logic that keeps every seed completable without glitches and protects against softlocks from dungeon-key usage. That guarantees the generated logic, not the safety of your files: backups, separate output names and correct save selection remain your responsibility.

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