GregTech 5

GregTech, created by GregoriusT, is a mod that completely overhauls IndustrialCraft 2, adding numerous machines and materials, as well as adjusting recipes for existing items. GregTech is meant to extend the game by making things much less overpowered, harder to craft, and adding end-game machines.

Getting Started with GregTech 5.0
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.

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.

Tool Nerfs
GregTech severly 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 Iron Tools. Here is the recipe for the Iron Pickaxe, GregTech style.

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

New ore Generation
As from GregTech 5.0, Ore generation is no longer biome dependent. Ores will generate pretty much anywhere underground as long as the height (Y-level) is correct. 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.

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.