Well, first step is having minecraft, got that? GOOD.
Now you'll need minecraft forge, as most if not all mods use forge to interfacing with minecraft, base edit mods are evil, avoid em like the plague, unless you have good reason.
Make sure to grab the installer (not the installer-win, which is for Windows), You should have Java, you do right, if not WTF M8.
LINK http://files.minecraftforge.net/maven/net/minecraftforge/forge/index_1.7.10.html
java -jar <whatever_the_name_of_the_downloaded_installer_jar_is>This will install forge, for your minecraft, OH, be sure to download the 1.7.10 jar for minecraft by creating a 1.7.10 profile and starting it AT LEAST ONCE.
If you've done all this and you installed forge, start your minecraft launcher up and create a new profile using the forge version of minecraft instead of the originals usually goes a little something like forge-*-1.7.10-*
Its a good idea to check http://modlist.mcf.li/, when you want to try new mods out, or just think the names sound cool.
Here is a list of mods, YOU MUST HAVE (not really but they're coolio)
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WAILA
What Am I Looking At, is a nice utility mod, it adds a hud which displays the the block you're currently looking at, in addition to that, it also tells you which mod it belongs to. So if you see those strange glowly rocks and have NO IDEA where it came from WAILA will help clear that up. -
WAWLA is an extension of WAILA, that adds even more information about the block you're looking at, such as which tool you can use on the block, if the block can be mined with the current tool in hand, as well as providing some energy information for certain tech mod blocks (and possibly magic, but I've never tried those).
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THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR COMPLEX MOD PACKS, unless your brain can retain all those thousands of recipes that come with them, I'm sure you remember the recipe for an
ME controllerby now. -
While playing vanilla minecraft, you don't have that many things to worry about and so organizing your chests can be a fun past time. Sorry to inform you, modded minecraft is a WHOLE NEW BALLGAME, YOU WONT HAVE THE LEISURE TO ORGANIZE YOUR CHESTS, so we have utils to do it for you. Inventory Tweaks, while a bit strange in the naming is a nice mod that allows you to sort your inventories (chests, your backpacks, etc...) At the press of a button, your once hectic chest filled with goodies, turns into a wonderfully organized list (most times...)
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Once you start playing with mods, your old chests aren't gonna cut it anymore, that, or your gonna cover WHOLE CHUNKS with nothing but chests. Enter Iron Chests, this mod as its name suggests adds an "Iron Chest" to the game, which can store more items than the regular plankie counterpart. But don't be fooled by my lack-luster description, Iron Chest also adds several OTHER chests, including a Dirt, Copper (if you have copper), Diamond and Crystal chests, which only rank up in storage capacity.
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Ok, so maybe those Iron Chests weren't cutting it for you, or maybe you got tired, EXHAUSTED of running back and forth in your base looking for that 1 diamond you stashed away, or maybe, you can't handle the constant tinkering around your crafting table making items to make other items to make other items which make ..., you get the point. If any of these sounds like you, then Applied Energistics might be the mod for you, while Applied Energistics, normally abbreviated AE is sold off as a all-in-1 storage system, which happens to intergrate nicely with NEI and allows you to craft anything as long as the ingredients are in the system, wait that's mostly what its sold as.
But don't be fooled, AE is POWERFUL (even I haven't realized its full potential), and its core, AE allows some amazing automation of mundane crafting tasks, finally you have a way of making cookies and cakes without ever having to chase cows or chickens.
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You must be saying "Uggh, not another storage mod", YES ANOTHER ONE, I WANT MORE, jokes aside, Better Storage is on this list for one thing.
Backpacks.
Now you must be saying "WAT, BUT DOESNT MOD ALREADT HAVE THOSE?" The answer, yes, but did they add a pretty well rendered backpack that you ACTUALLY PLACE ON YOUR BACK. "Ah nope." I hear you mutter on your breath as you look around nervously. Better Storage, despite being attractive for its Backpacks, also adds various other storage blocks, such as lockers, storage crates oh, and LOCKED CHESTS, you heard me right, you can now have a key for your precious diamond chest, assuming no one wants in with a diamond drill and takes it anyway.
Maybe you like decorative blocks, or you want to mark off an area as DANGEROUS STUFF HAPPENS HERE
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Chisel 2 at its heart is a decorative block mod, it adds a TON (shout out to Gaming on Caffiene), of decorative blocks, all you need to get started is a Chisel made from Iron and some sticks. Just grab a block and try it in the chisel gui and have a blast.
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If your a hard on minecraft block fan, Carpenter's Blocks may scare you at first, "SLOPES!?, ANGLES? WHAT HERESY IS THIS.", calm your blocks for a second, Carpenter's blocks, while it may add these things, they LOOK AMAZING in minecraft, simply craft any of the carpenter's blocks, grab your decorative blocks and slap on the carpenter block and gawk in amazement. So, don't knock it, till ya tried it, you'll fall in love, money back guaranteed.
Maybe you like tech mods
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Topping this list, is the big daddy, the oldest mofo on the planet, Industrial Craft, this mod has been around since, the beginning of the modding scene. Please don't quote me on that one, but you can get how old it is.
This mod sports its own power system, a bit complex but none the less amazing, its all about the Industrial Process in this mod, from power generation, to canning your tasty potatoes and uranium, wait those 2 shouldn't go together...
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Behind virtually every tech related mod pack, Thermal Expansion, WILL BE PRESENT, its not a statement, its a FACT. Thermal Expansion, adds a slew of machines as well as the widely accepted Redstone Flux (RF) power system. Ranging from ore processing to electric furnances and that ever so helpful Igneous Extruder (aka. Obsidian maker), Thermal Expansion is the backbone of your techy needs.
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Probably the granddaddy of minecraft mods, and the founder of all that which is PIPES, while Buildcraft doesn't offer much in terms of "OH GAWD AMAZING", Buildcraft has a mature and widely recognized system (eh em, giant holes in the desert left behind by a Quarry cough), Buildcraft is a nice addition to any tech mod pack, as it gives us old mod users a familiar ground to play on, in the presence of those Thermal knick nacks and their Enders. Oh did I mention you can refine oil and use it for power your engines. While buildcraft originally ran on the MJ (Minecraft Joule, not Micheal Jackson) power system, it now runs on RF.
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Ender IO, was a project created to alleviate the dreaded pipe problem we had with the previously mentioned mods, it has evolved over time into a truly amazing mod in itself. Offering most of the features you'd find in Thermal Expansion and a bit better Quarry (if not more expensive) than Buildcraft, Ender IO makes a fun addition alongside the previously mentioned, its slightly difficult to get into since it requires some higher tiered items to get started, but it pays off well. Ender IO, just like buildcraft, used to run on MJ, but now runs on RF.
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Yo dawg, we heard you liked computers, so we put a computer in your computer, so you can compute while you compute. Ha haaaaaaa! Silly memes side, Open Computers can be considered an open source version of Computercraft, a mod that adds Computers to minecraft, and we aren't talking uuugh, meh switches kind of computers, we're talking BUILD URSELF A COMPUTER AND WRITE LUAAAAAAAA! kind of computers. So why exactly would you want this? Because computers, oh did I mention that you can control, most if not all the machines in the previously mentioned mods with these computers allowing for really complex systems, so go, build yourself that awesome sauce cake factory.
Surely these aren't all the tech mods out there, there are plenty more, I'm just naming my hand pick favourites.
But maybe, tech mods aren't your cup of tea, how about magic?
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Thaumcraft, RAKES IN downloads, one of the most widely recognized and entertaining mods, while remaining difficult enough to pose a challenge, while I don't know the specifics about it, watching plenty of play throughs, I am yet to find a user displeased with Thaumcraft. Its all about Aspects and turning your everyday blocks into essence to make new awesome items, as well as a range of magical wands with KICKASS spells. Just try it, however be warned, Thaumcraft has a bit of a learning curve, and is not for the faint of heart.
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While I've never really tried, or even looked at this mod, the description was certainly exciting, making your own magical spells? IM IN!
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How about flowers?
Wait where are you going, please come back, NOOOOOOOESSS.
Botania, is a mod all about flowers, and not your girly, lovey dovey flowers, IM WALKING ABOUT MANA IMBUED FLOWERS. Are you sold? Why the hell are you still here then, GO PLAY.
Maybe you love exploring new worlds?
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I have never played the original Myst games, but Mystcraft is based off the idea of creating your own worlds by describing them via books and runes. I got nothing more to say, mystcraft is so deep and expansive, that words cannot describe its sheer volume of depth, just try it for yourself.
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I've never played it, but I do know, IT HAD A HYDRA.
Now for some companion mods, or as I like to call them recycling
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Ex Nihilo is all about something from nothing, or rather, getting ores from nothing but that annoying cobblestone you had lying around, I'm sure that 500 stacks of cobblestone is crying in fear as you raise your hammer to it reducing it to nothing but Dust, quite literally.
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Originally meant as an extension of Ex Nihilo, Ex Astris expands the original idea of Ex Nihilo by adding a more up to date and techy machines. I'm sure your hand grew tired of sieving that stack of dust by now, rest and let a machine do it.
Q. Why 1.7.10, why not 1.8.x?
A. Most of the bigger mods are still on 1.7.10, authors could just be lazy to
port, I think it has to do with 1.8.x's releases, there have been a quite
a few releases in the 1.8 cycle, and modders DREAD having to update code
when minecraft updates, it also stops a SLEW of error reports
that come from these unstable changes.
In the end, the modders are most likely waiting for 1.9 to land,
and so 1.8 enters a version freeze, then you'll start seeing 1.8 big boys!
Q. Who is 'I'
A. I, IceDragon, master of all cookies and stuff.
Q. Who is 'you'
A. You, the reader, WHO ELSE.