It might be worth exploring a minimalist set up as well, I'm not sure it would help, but it would be a lot less information for the game to track (which should make it faster).
1 Stone type for each Layer (plus Obsidian)
1 ore type for each metal (limit metals to say Copper, Iron/Steel, Silver, Gold, Bronze)
No unused Mineral Stones (if it has a point in the reaction keep it if not toss it)
1 type of coal
1-3 gems of each value level
1 Sand Soil 1 other Soil
Limit Weapons, armor and clothing (1 of each type, armor/clothing that covers most or all body layers)
Going to the extreme
1 size 3-4 herbivore, 1 size 9-10 herbivore
1 size 3-4 predator, 1 size 8-9 predator
3 above ground plants, 3 below ground plants
limit domestic animals to Dog, generic small animal (pig/sheep/goat/whatever), generic large animal (cow), generic pack/mount/pull animal (horse/donkey/mule/llama/camel/muskox), some kind of neutered (doesn't breed) vermin hunter (cat/terrier/mongoose/ferret). If you feel like splurging you could do cave version as well.
1 humanoid creature (say a generic beastman that lives everywhere)
1 large river fish, 1 large ocean fish, 3ish vermin fish
1 opponent race (combine goblins and kobolds)
1 type of demon (plus demon lord)
1 type of mega beast