What Is Void of Ore Processing?
Minecraft modpacks often struggle with balance. Early game feels too generous, and by the time you reach the endgame, your processing setups offer only modest gains. Void of Ore Processing flips that expectation entirely. It’s a curated collection of Minetweaker scripts and config files designed to nerf ore output at the start and then reward you with an insanely overpowered processing chain later on. Originally built for the Void of Magic/Tech modpack, this project can be reused partially or completely in your own custom mod setups.
The core idea is simple: raw ores and their semi-processed forms yield eight times less material than usual. Instead of ingots, you get nuggets. Instead of full dusts, you get IC2 tiny dusts. This forces you to think carefully about every resource, but once you unlock the full processing line, a single ore can produce over 38 ingots. It’s a journey from scarcity to abundance that makes every automation milestone feel earned.
The Nerf: Early Game Scarcity
Right from the first swing of your pickaxe, you’ll notice the difference. Ores no longer drop blocks that smelt into a full ingot. With the scripts active, you’ll receive nuggets or tiny dusts. For example, iron ore might give you just one iron nugget instead of an ingot. The same applies to copper, tin, gold, and virtually every metal you rely on for tools, armor, and machines.
This deliberate nerf extends to recipes as well. Pickaxe, armor, and even Iron Chest recipes have been made more expensive to prevent you from rushing through early progression. You’ll need to gather significantly more raw materials just to craft basic equipment. The challenge isn’t meant to be punishing; it’s there to make you explore alternative mods and invest in the processing infrastructure that eventually pays off in spectacular fashion.
The OP Processing Chain: 20 Steps to 38 Ingots
Once you move past the initial struggle, the modpack’s true potential unfolds. The processing line consists of 20 distinct steps that weave together six different mods. Each stage multiplies your yield, and by the time you complete the entire chain, you can extract more than 38 ingots from a single ore block.
Here’s a high-level look at the mods involved in the chain:
- Another One Bites the Dust (core) – Handles ore clusters and dust conversions.
- Botania (chain) – Provides magical ore multiplication through mana-powered flowers.
- Ender IO – Sagmill and Alloy Smelter recipes are tweaked for intermediate processing.
- Factorization (chain) – Offers crystallizer and slag furnace steps for extra gains.
- Immersive Engineering – Crusher and arc furnace setups contribute to the chain.
- Industrialcraft 2 Experimental (core) – The backbone of the system; tiny dusts, macerator, and blast furnace recipes are essential.
- Mekanism (chain) – Adds purification, crushing, and enrichment stages.
- Nuclearcraft – Advanced ore processing with its own multipliers.
- Thaumcraft (chain) – Alchemical processes and native clusters boost yields.
- Technomancy (chain) – Bridges Thaumcraft and technology for even more steps.
Not every step is mandatory. The scripts include shortcuts that let you skip certain machines or mods, but doing so will reduce your final yield. This gives you flexibility: you can prioritize the parts of the chain you enjoy most while still reaping a substantial bonus, or you can commit to the full 20-step marathon for maximum efficiency.
Configs That Tie Everything Together
Minetweaker scripts alone can’t alter every recipe. That’s where the included config files come in. They modify machine-specific recipes that scripts can’t touch, ensuring a seamless experience. For example, the Sagmill and Alloy Furnace configs adjust Ender IO processing, while the Blast Furnace config fine-tunes Industrialcraft 2 outputs. The Another One Bites the Dust config standardizes ore clusters so they work consistently across all supported mods.
Industrialcraft 2 is particularly vital because its tiny dust system underpins the entire nerf. Without IC2, the core mechanic of receiving tiny dusts instead of full dusts wouldn’t function. If you’re building a custom pack, you’ll want to keep that dependency in mind. If you’re assembling a custom modpack, tools like the foxygame.net launcher make it simple to install mods directly from its menu, offering a flexible and modern way to manage your Minecraft experience without hunting down every file manually.
Shortcuts and Trade-offs
The beauty of this system lies in its modularity. You aren’t forced to build every single machine from every mod. The scripts recognize partial chains and adjust yields accordingly. For instance, if you skip the Botania steps, you might still achieve 20 ingots per ore instead of 38. This lets you tailor the difficulty and reward to your playstyle. Early on, you might rely on a simple Mekanism setup; later, you can integrate Thaumcraft and Factorization to push the numbers even higher.
The nerfed recipes for pickaxes, armor, and Iron Chests also encourage you to invest in the processing chain before upgrading your gear. You’ll find yourself carefully managing resources, automating what you can, and gradually unlocking the overpowered yields that make late-game building and crafting a breeze.
Supported Mods and Future Plans
As of now, the scripts and configs support a wide range of mods without any changes. The full list includes Another One Bites the Dust, Botania, Ender IO, Factorization, Forestry, Galacticraft, Immersive Engineering, Industrialcraft 2, Iron Chests, Mekanism, Nuclearcraft, Thaumcraft, Technomancy, and Witching Gadgets. Note that Witching Gadgets clusters need to be switched to AOBD clusters if the mod isn’t present.
Future updates aim to expand compatibility to Betweenlands, Tinkers’ Construct, and Metallurgy. These additions will open up even more processing pathways and make the system usable in a broader range of modpacks. The project is designed to be shared and adapted, so community contributions are always welcome.
Permission and Reuse
The creator has granted full permission to use, edit, and distribute this script-config set without needing explicit approval, as long as you link back to the original CurseForge page. This makes Void of Ore Processing an excellent foundation for custom modpacks. You can tweak the numbers, add support for your favorite mods, or strip out parts you don’t need. The open nature of the project encourages experimentation and ensures that the concept of a nerfed early game and an OP endgame can live on in many different forms.
Conclusion
Void of Ore Processing redefines how you think about resource management in Minecraft. By starting you off with painfully low yields and then rewarding dedication with an absurdly high output, it creates a progression curve that feels both challenging and deeply satisfying. Whether you’re playing the original Void of Magic/Tech pack or integrating these scripts into your own creation, the system delivers a fresh take on ore processing that pushes you to explore multiple mods and automate every step. The combination of Minetweaker magic and carefully tuned configs proves that sometimes the best way to appreciate abundance is to first experience true scarcity.