Vanilla Iron and Steel Mod

The Vanilla Iron and Steel Mod replaces compacted steel deposits with mineable iron ore, adding a lightweight steel production chain that stays close to vanilla RimWorld balance and progression.

Vanilla Iron and Steel Mod Features

• Replaces mineable steel deposits with iron ore deposits.
• Adds steel forging through bloomeries, smithies, and smelters.
• Keeps vanilla-style balance with only a small increase in steel production time.
• Requires coal or charcoal to turn iron into steel.
• Removes the steel requirement from the Research Bench.
• Maintains compatibility with mods that alter steel or compacted steel deposits.
• Compatible with Combat Extended by default.
• Can be safely removed from saves if smithy recipes are removed beforehand.

Production progression

• Bloomery: Early-game steel production using a simple stone structure. Works outdoors but operates slowly.
• Fueled or Electric Smithy: Mid-game production for forging larger amounts of steel.
• Electric Smelter: Late-game industrial steel production with high efficiency.

How the mod works

• Iron ore deposits: Existing steel deposits are renamed and now drop iron ore instead of steel.
• Steel: Steel itself remains mechanically unchanged except for updated graphics.
• Compatibility: Mods that alter compacted steel or steel materials generally remain compatible.

Compatibility notes

It is highly recommended to start a new save when using this mod.

Adding the mod mid-save will still work, but deep drilling behavior may become inconsistent. Existing steel deposits may only yield 1 steel per digging operation. New games correctly generate iron deposits instead.

You must use at least one coal or charcoal mod, otherwise the mod will generate errors.

Recommended coal-compatible mods:

• Coal Expanded Mod.
• Simple Coal Mod.
• Medieval Times Mod.
• Apothecary Mod.
• Survivalist’s Additions Mod.
• Atlas’ Materials Mod.
• Clockwork and Steam Mod.

Any mod introducing a def named “Coal” should also function correctly.

Incompatible mods

• Simple Chains: Steel Mod.
• Rimworld Metallurgy Mod.

Compatible mods

• Vanilla Textures Expanded Mod.
• Vanilla Factions Expanded – Medieval Mod.
• Extra Stone Mod.
• RIMkea Mod (load before this mod).
• Metals+ Mod (load before this mod).
• ZARS Production Mod (load before this mod).

When troubleshooting the Vanilla Iron and Steel Mod:

• See if the error persists if you just have this mod and its requirements active.
• If not, try adding your other mods until it happens again.
• Always post your log using the Log Uploader.
• For best support, please use the Discord-channel for error-reporting.
• Do not report errors by making a discussion-thread, I get no notification of that.
• If you have the solution for a problem, please post it to the GitHub repository.
• Use RimSort to sort your mods.

MIT License; Copyright (c) 2020 Billy J Barnes.

Additional credits: Neceros, Billy J Barnes.