Getting Started (GregTech 5)

GregTech is a very vast mod and getting started with it might be daunting for some players. While GregTech does make some changes which might severely affect gameplay, most of them can be reverted through the config files provided.

You might want to have NEI installed since this helps immensely with the huge number of recipes.

Also, here are some things that players new to this mod might want to keep in mind for version 5.0. This page will mostly document changes to Vanilla Minecraft and Vanilla IC2. For Mod specific information see this page.

Long load times
Depending on your PC, the very first time you load Minecraft after installing GregTech, load times might be very long since the mod needs to generate huge config files. Subsequent loads will be faster.

SI units
GregTech tries to use SI Units as far as possible. This means that you will have to get used to a new set of units as you are using your machines:
 * 1 L (Litre) = 1 mB (milliBucket). This means that 1000 L = 1 Bucket.
 * 1 s (second) = 20 ticks.

General Philosophies
GregTech has a few thematic ideas you should keep in mind when playing with it.
 * The vast majority of this mod's features come in patterns.
 * As technology progresses, energy consumption rises rapidly, raw material consumption decreases, and raw materials gain wider ranges of uses.
 * It is better to build big than to build fast. This applies to both construction and machinery crafting.
 * Technology leads to greater technology.
 * Everything can and should be automated.
 * Greater complexity leads to superior material results.
 * Think about what you're going to do before you do it. It's way too easy to get yourself killed because you didn't think.

Wood
By default, GregTech nerfs the vanilla Log -> Plank -> Stick recipes. Here are the new recipes.

Normal efficiency can be achieved through the use of a Saw or a Lathe, and even higher efficiency can be achieved with a Cutting Machine.

Tools and Armour
GregTech severely nerfs the durability of the Vanilla Wood and Stone tools. To make up for that, it introduces Flint Tools which have around the same durability as the unnerfed vanilla Stone tools. Flint Tools are crafted in the same configuration as Stone Tools using a Crafting Table. See for example the Flint Pickaxe.

GregTech also changes the recipes for Metallic Tools and Armour from both vanilla and other mods (ThaumCraft Thaumium Tools for example). Tools and Armour made out of non-metallic materials (such as vanilla Diamond tools and armour) do not have their recipes altered.

Here is the recipe for the Iron Pickaxe, GregTech style.

Another example, for the Iron Chestplate, GregTech style.

New ore Generation
As from GregTech 5.0, Ore generation is no longer biome dependent. Ore nodes will be generated independent of biome, and distributed by altitude. GregTech will also override Vanilla Ore Generation for all vanilla ores, including Diamond, Coal and Iron Ores.

The ores will generate in large deposits which can span up to several chunks horizontally in the X and Z directions and two to three times the height of the player in the Y direction. This is very different from the vanilla ore generation system where ores get sprinkled randomly everywhere. This means that if you find an ore, there will be others nearby.

In addition to large ore deposits, GregTech will generate Crushed Ores and Small Ores randomly underground. Since these are randomly placed, they are not a very reliable source of materials, but are useful nevertheless if you stumble upon them.

Forge Xray is a very useful mod if you wish to visually see how GregTech generates its ores. The heights at which different Ores generate can be found in "GregTech\WorldGeneration.cfg" inside of your config folder.

The Bronze Age
It is now compulsory to go through the Bronze Age to progress with GregTech, assuming that other mods which affect the GregTech progression system are not installed.

Bronze dust which can then be smelted into a Bronze Ingot is made as follows:

Your first machines will require a fair amount or Bronze. These are powered by Steam from either GregTech's own boilers or Railcraft Boilers. Though not required, you might want to later upgrade the Steam Machines to their High Pressure versions which will require Steel Ingots made from a Blast Furnace.

Flint and Steel
Here is the GregTech recipe for Flint and Steel which actually requires a Steel Nugget unlike the Vanilla recipe.

Hopper
Hoppers now require a wrench. Do note that the wrench will not be consumed. It will take durability damage though.

IC2 Changes

 * GregTech automatically adds all its ores to the IC2 Miner list. You do not need to edit IC2.ini.
 * The IC2 Generator is automatically removed. You need to use GregTech's own boilers to generate Steam which you can use to turn turbines for generating electricity.
 * GregTech generates its own Uranium and Plutonium Ore. This means you can now disable all IC2 ore generation if you want mining to be more challenging.