Don't Panic
I know this one seems a bit self explanatory but I feel it needs to be stressed. This mod pack has a lot of additions and there are even things in it that baffle me on how to use them, I'm looking at you Fusion reactor. This is not because these items are so complicated but instead are the result of a lack of familiarity. The more you use a mod and it's associated items and blocks the more comfortable you will be come with them.
NEI is you best friend
NEI is a wonderful tool and should be your first stop when try to figure out recipes. Some mods in the pack change the recipes of other mods a bit and a recipe may change between versions of the the same mod. The individual mod's Wikis may simply not 100% reflect your version of the Feed the Beast but NEI will.
Power in Minecraft?
A large number of the more useful devices in the various mods in Feed the beast require some kind of power. In the pack there are two main types of power that you will use, Energy Units (EU) and Minecraft Joules (MJ).
EU is the power units used in Industrial Craft 2 and is carried along cables of different metals most of the time covered in rubber. EU is made with various types of devices from the lowly generator to the more advance nuclear reactor depending on how much you need. EU is easily store-able with many devices with ranging capacity for storage, from the batbox to the Interdimensional energy storage unit, and associated build costs. You can directly convert EU into MJ through the use of electric engines.
MJ on the other hand is the power source of of buildcraft and is produced through the use of various engines. MJ are transported to their associated machines via direct contact or redstone pipes and conduit. MJ is not nearly as easy to store early on but once you have Redstone energy storage cells and redstone conduit the systems efficency will be much better. There is no direct method to convert MJ over to EU but there are a few indirect methods like like using a magma crucible to generate lava to then use in geothermal generators.
To begin with pick one type and get used to it because the both have their positives and negatives. You will most undoubtedly use both in any major setup so you should plan accordingly.
Pick a starting mod.
When first starting out with Feed the Beast there are two mods that are good starting points, Industrial Craft 2 (IC2) and Thermal Expansion (TE). Both mods have a good progression for increased productivity and align themselves with one type of power or the other, IC2 uses Energy units while TE uses Minecraft Joules. Personally I start with IC2 but I have recently familiarized myself TE and find it just as n
ice of a mod to start from. Below are a series of flowcharts and information for each mod. By request I have also added a section for factorization.
In no way are these progression charts optimized for pure efficiency. They are simply meant as a starting point for new players and minimize crossing into other mods unless there is a very good reason.
IC2
IC2 takes a larger amount of resources to get going than the other mods but it also has a wider range of tools and devices to go along with it. It also has the largest range of power options including nuclear power.
*Note: As of writing this FTB Beta A still uses an old version of Gregtech which heavily relied on the centrifuge. This has changed in later versions
Thermal Expansion
Thermal Expansion,while not having the depth of IC2 makes up for it by with convenience and flexibility of the machines. All sides but the front of the machines can be configured for inputs and outputs and if you put the output of one machine next to the input of another or a chest it will automatically move it over. if you like setting up automated assembly lines than this is the mod for you.
Factorization
If you are feeling brave, factorization can be use quite well along side the two mods listed above as it requires no fuel so beyond the resources used to create the machines it is quite self sufficient. It is also the only way to get a 300% output for metals.
Wait, where do I go from here?
Now that you have a foot hold in the mod pack I suggest branching out to another mod or securing a more permanent power solution, can anybody say drain the nether. The choices are really up to you and are beyond the scope of this starters guide. Let your creativeness breed efficiency and never be afraid to ask for help.
