There are 2 mod-types out there - some change basic-recipes and gameplay complete (dytech, bob-mods) and other only add things to gameplay without breaking basic-recipes/mechanics (examples Treefarm, Side-Inserters). I personal prefer the second category, i can play vanilla and if i want i can use additional features to improve my fun or automation.
Dear Youtubers - I think its worth give some mods a chance on screen (in series, spotlight), please think about.
i think i brought factorio in Apr. 2014 and in Jun.2014 i make my own mod. Since then i never played factorio unmodded again. maybe a big mistake, but it's how i play.
It's the Show Your Creations Section, so here some pics from different savegames some with over 80 hours of gameplay. Mixed always vanilla objects with modded stuff from my mod - sure nothing impressive.
nothing fancy, but finally i got the rocket-defense, it took some time with this setup ^^
![Image](https://forums.factorio.com/images/ext/141a28c44680fd2a2ac53e43c4845327.jpg)
a new started game - shows modded petroleum-gas production from wood (it's possible in real-life - wood->gas)
![Image](https://forums.factorio.com/images/ext/f6395a67424edd24a401779b9577210d.jpg)
same world - shows the typical production setup for robots - right upper corner a treefarm as wood-reserve - not used for power-generation
![Image](https://forums.factorio.com/images/ext/058ec099a4b3713772efb1b67fca9b8e.jpg)
the world again - a little bit scrolled down - solar-power generation (with stirlings instead of solar-panels) - shows also different accumulators types
![Image](https://forums.factorio.com/images/ext/c164b802144ca9f22a7634427c8379b5.jpg)
ore-washing for better ore-output - and different wall-types
![Image](https://forums.factorio.com/images/ext/314a4d4c931674dbf221cab0879d8d6c.jpg)
energy-production with bigger boiler, and typical solar-flower-builds
![Image](https://forums.factorio.com/images/ext/1399ea1aed34d28951119e20cdd943d2.jpg)
and power-setup experimental-mod - looks more like a puzzle
![Image](https://forums.factorio.com/images/ext/898d6e19b6a0e6e9f24bc3bf7913c017.jpg)