I have begun work on expert modpack so let me shill it to you :]
Starting with Botania, you'll need to get into Thermal, then Ars, then Malum, and then combine your expertise in each, to begin synthesis and automation of a material prized by the gnomes so they can count you as worthy of the gnomish technomagister qualifications.
But it isn't so straightforward. Twists and turns through your path as you create new materials, an interweaving of the four core mods.
It'll be very lightweight, and force you to think unconventionally. The gnomes adore unusual magical automation.
Are you capable, of progressing through the tiers and crafting a mystical factory any gnome would be proud of?
Recipe examples (not many, it's still very much in the "how do I gate this" phase, but core progression is solidified):
Steel, requires you to scrape the magic out of manasteel and sear the result in a furnace.
Arcane pyrite, an important midgame metal, asks of you to alloy terrasteel, gold, and mana powder, throw the result in a mana pool, then alloy that again with a source gem.