Your first steps on the frontier.
A new colony. A rough tool. A long way to go. Use these field notes to find your feet in Tool Progression: Stone to Electric.
Check the notes that come with your exact mod release. Supported RimWorld versions, dependencies, recipes, and save compatibility can change between builds.
Prepare your colony
- Open the release center and read the installation notes for the build you intend to play.
- Back up your saves before changing mods. For testing a new build, use a separate test colony.
- Install the listed dependencies and follow the release’s load-order instructions. Do not combine multiple copies of Tool Progression.
- Review the mod settings before starting, then confirm that your intended systems are enabled.
Follow the tools
The journey runs from primitive materials into an increasingly capable workshop. Stone and bone establish the early foothold; stronger materials and powered equipment expand what comes next.
| Stage | What to explore |
|---|---|
| Stone & bone | Early crafting and survival equipment |
| The workshop | Workstations, organization, storage, and hauling |
| Steel | Metalworking and stronger equipment |
| Plasteel | Advanced materials and carefully chosen upgrades |
| Electric | Powered tools and production |
Use in-game descriptions and research requirements as the authority for your installed build. This table is a broad tour, not a recipe list.
Choose your optional systems
Open RimWorld’s mod settings and select Tool Progression. Available options may include roofing, lumber progression, smelting progression, and streamer features. Read each option before changing an established save.
The switches on this website are an interactive preview only. They do not modify your game or save preferences.
A living frontier
Explore beekeeping, Bio-Arbor cultivation, fishing, trapping, jewelry, construction, and caravan life as those systems are made available in your release. Start with a few systems and grow your colony around the ones you enjoy.
DLC-specific content
- Vulpite xenotype: requires Biotech.
- Merchant Tradition ideology content: requires Ideology.
Check each release for its complete DLC and dependency requirements. Owning a DLC does not guarantee that every feature is present in every testing build.
When something goes sideways
A recipe or item is missing
Check research, workbench, material, and mod-setting requirements. Confirm that you are using the intended release and that dependencies are enabled.
I suspect a mod conflict
Use a backed-up test save or fresh test colony. Record your versions, DLC, and load order. Compare behavior with the smallest supported mod list without changing your only copy of a save.
How do I report a bug?
Use the private support form. Include steps to reproduce, what you expected, what happened, your versions, and a short relevant log excerpt with personal details removed.