Carbon Steel Set
If you combine Coal and Steel in the Foundry, you will get Carbon Steel. It is slightly below diamond, but you can still mine obsidian with it.
Foundry GUI
The Foundry is very easy to use, just put your stuff in and let it go!
Night Vision Visor
Grab some iron, glowstone, and glass to obtain this helmet. You don't need Night Vision potions anymore, you can just put this on your head and gain the effect as long as it is equipped!
Carbon Fiber Set
If you combine molten carbon and string in a crafting table, you will get carbon fiber. This set of tools and armor is slightly better than diamond. The attack speed is very good on this set.
Boar Meat
If you manage to kill the dangerous Wild Boar, you will get this A-tier source of food.
Turkey
This little harmless animal will wander around in forests and plains. They are annoying though so you'll probably want to kill them as soon as possible.
Turkey Drumstick
As well as a Turkey Breast, you might get this little treat.
Active Coke Furnace
The Coke Furnace runs on Coke, smelted Coal, and it smelts a little faster than a normal Furnace. Just add Bricks in a Crafting Table, and that's it!
Steel Set
Combine Coal and Iron in a Foundry, and you will get Steel. It is between iron and diamond. It's a solid upgrade before you find diamonds.
Lead Ore
Find this ore in the lower half of the world, and make yourself some armor to save your iron for other things.
Turkey Breast
If you find a Turkey and kill it, you will get this B-tier food item.
Active Foundry
If you make the Foundry, and smelt Coal to get Coke, you can melt and combine metals to make better ones.
Fire Set
Fire tools can be made from Blaze Powder. They are as good as diamond. They break blocks fast, but don't have good durability. The sword and axe set the target on fire.
Reinforced Armor
If you add Obsidian to any set of armor, vanilla or modded, it will be more durable. If you want your armor to last longer, this is the ticket.
Wild Boar
This animal spawns in forests and plains, and will attack you on sight. Can you survive with nothing while a herd of 5 boars are after you?
Coke Furnace GUI
The Coke Furnace looks just like your basic furnace.
Kevlar Set
Combine molten iron and string in a crafting table, and you'll get Kevlar. This armor is better than diamonds, and you even get a six pack!
Cabbage
Grow this crop as a source of food, or you can even give it to a farmer villager to get emeralds!
Lead Set
Find Lead underground and get a solid set of armor that is as good as iron.