it actually runs! Crashes with out-of-memory error when you try to go below -64, but it's a start.

df_caverns/schematics/lamppost.lua

@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
-local outer_stair = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick"
-if stairs.register_stair_outer == nil then -- 0.4.16 compatibility
-	outer_stair = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick"
-end
-
 local n1 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_block", force_place=true }
-local n2 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 1, force_place=true }
+local n2 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 1, force_place=true }
 local n3 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", force_place=true }
-local n4 = { name = outer_stair, force_place=true }
+local n4 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", force_place=true }
 local n5 = { name = "air", force_place=true }
 local n6 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_seal", force_place=true }
 local n7 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 1, force_place=true }
@@ -14,9 +9,9 @@ local n8 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick", force_place=true }
 local n9 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 3, force_place=true }
 local n10 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_wall", force_place=true }
 local n11 = { name = df_caverns.node_name.meselamp, force_place=true }
-local n12 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 2, force_place=true }
+local n12 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 2, force_place=true }
 local n13 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 2, force_place=true }
-local n14 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 3, force_place=true }
+local n14 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 3, force_place=true }
 
 return {
 	name = "df_caverns:lamppost",

df_caverns/schematics/medium_building.lua

@@ -1,23 +1,18 @@
-local outer_stair = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick"
-if stairs.register_stair_outer == nil then -- 0.4.16 compatibility
-	outer_stair = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick"
-end
-
 local n1 = { name = "ignore"}
 local n8 = { name = "air", force_place=true }
 
 local n3 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick", force_place=true }
 local n4 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_wall", force_place=true }
-local n5 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 1, force_place=true }
+local n5 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 1, force_place=true }
 local n6 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", force_place=true }
-local n7 = { name = outer_stair, force_place=true }
+local n7 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", force_place=true }
 local n9 = { name = "stairs:slab_slade_brick", param2 = 23, force_place=true }
 local n10 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 1, force_place=true }
 local n11 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 3, force_place=true }
 local n14 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 23, force_place=true }
-local n15 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 2, force_place=true }
+local n15 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 2, force_place=true }
 local n16 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 2, force_place=true }
-local n17 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 3, force_place=true }
+local n17 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 3, force_place=true }
 
 -- foundation nodes
 local n2 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick", force_place=false, place_on_condition=mapgen_helper.buildable_to  }

df_caverns/schematics/oubliette.lua

@@ -1,19 +1,14 @@
-local outer_stair = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick"
-if stairs.register_stair_outer == nil then -- 0.4.16 compatibility
-	outer_stair = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick"
-end
-
 local n1 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_block", force_place=true }
-local n2 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 1, force_place=true }
+local n2 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 1, force_place=true }
 local n3 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", force_place=true }
-local n4 = { name = outer_stair, force_place=true }
+local n4 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", force_place=true }
 local n5 = { name = "air", force_place=true }
 local n6 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_seal", force_place=true }
 local n7 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 1, force_place=true }
 local n8 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 3, force_place=true }
-local n9 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 2, force_place=true }
+local n9 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 2, force_place=true }
 local n10 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 2, force_place=true }
-local n11 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 3, force_place=true }
+local n11 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 3, force_place=true }
 
 return {
 	name="df_caverns:oubliette",

df_caverns/schematics/small_building.lua

@@ -1,22 +1,17 @@
-local outer_stair = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick"
-if stairs.register_stair_outer == nil then -- 0.4.16 compatibility
-	outer_stair = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick"
-end
-
 local n1 = { name = "ignore" }
 local n10 = { name = "air", force_place=true }
 
 local n3 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick", force_place=true }
 local n4 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_wall", force_place=true }
-local n5 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 1, force_place=true }
+local n5 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 1, force_place=true }
 local n6 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", force_place=true }
-local n7 = { name = outer_stair, force_place=true }
+local n7 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", force_place=true }
 local n11 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 1, force_place=true }
 local n12 = { name = "stairs:slab_slade_brick", param2 = 22, force_place=true}
 local n13 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 3, force_place=true }
-local n15 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 2, force_place=true }
+local n15 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 2, force_place=true }
 local n16 = { name = "stairs:stair_slade_brick", param2 = 2, force_place=true }
-local n17 = { name = outer_stair, param2 = 3, force_place=true }
+local n17 = { name = "stairs:stair_outer_slade_brick", param2 = 3, force_place=true }
 
 -- foundation nodes
 local n2 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick", force_place=false, place_on_condition=mapgen_helper.buildable_to }

df_caverns/schematics/small_slab.lua

@@ -1,15 +1,10 @@
-local inner_stair = "stairs:stair_inner_slade_brick"
-if stairs.register_stair_inner == nil then -- 0.4.16 compatibility
-	inner_stair = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick"
-end
-
 
 local n1 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick", force_place=false, place_on_condition=mapgen_helper.buildable_to }
-local n2 = { name = inner_stair, param2 = 1, force_place=true }
+local n2 = { name = "stairs:stair_inner_slade_brick", param2 = 1, force_place=true }
-local n3 = { name = inner_stair, force_place=true }
+local n3 = { name = "stairs:stair_inner_slade_brick", force_place=true }
 local n4 = { name = "df_underworld_items:slade_brick", force_place=true }
-local n5 = { name = inner_stair, param2 = 2, force_place=true }
+local n5 = { name = "stairs:stair_inner_slade_brick", param2 = 2, force_place=true }
-local n6 = { name = inner_stair, param2 = 3, force_place=true }
+local n6 = { name = "stairs:stair_inner_slade_brick", param2 = 3, force_place=true }
 
 return {
 	name = "df_caverns:small_slab",

df_dependencies/misc.lua

@@ -39,10 +39,11 @@ df_dependencies.texture_wood = select_required({default="default_wood.png", mcl_
 df_dependencies.texture_mineral_coal = select_required({default="default_mineral_coal.png",	mcl_core="mcl_core_coal_ore.png"}) -- MCL's coal texture isn't transparent, but is only used with gas seeps and should work fine that way
 df_dependencies.texture_glass_bottle = select_required({vessels="vessels_glass_bottle.png",	mcl_potions="mcl_potions_potion_bottle.png"})
 
-df_dependencies.mods_required.mcl_vars = true
+df_dependencies.mods_required.mcl_init = true
 df_dependencies.mods_required.mcl_worlds = true
 df_dependencies.mods_required.mcl_strongholds = true
-if minetest.get_modpath("mcl_vars") then
+if minetest.get_modpath("mcl_init") then
+
 	local prefix = "dfcaverns_"
 	-- NOTE: These defaults are from df_caverns' config. Update them if those change.
 	
@@ -78,6 +79,8 @@ if minetest.get_modpath("mcl_vars") then
 		end
 	end
 
+--	minetest.debug(dump(mcl_vars))
+	
 	dofile(minetest.get_modpath(minetest.get_current_modname()).."/ores.lua")
 	
 	-- never mind - add dependency on mcl_strongholds and these will get generated before overworld_min gets changed.

df_dependencies/mod.conf

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 name = df_dependencies
 description = A utility mod for df_caverns that gathers all dependencies on minetest_game in one place, to ease compatibility efforts with mineclone and other such games
 depends =
-optional_depends = beds, bucket, default, doors, farming, fireflies, mcl_beds, mcl_buckets, mcl_chests, mcl_copper, mcl_core, mcl_doors, mcl_farming, mcl_furnaces, mcl_lanterns, mcl_mobitems, mcl_ocean, mcl_potions, mcl_sounds, mcl_strongholds, mcl_torches, mcl_vars, mcl_wool, mcl_worlds, mclx_core, mesecons, moreblocks, stairs, vessels, wool
+optional_depends = beds, bucket, default, doors, farming, fireflies, mcl_beds, mcl_buckets, mcl_chests, mcl_copper, mcl_core, mcl_doors, mcl_farming, mcl_furnaces, mcl_lanterns, mcl_mobitems, mcl_ocean, mcl_potions, mcl_sounds, mcl_strongholds, mcl_torches, mcl_init, mcl_wool, mcl_worlds, mclx_core, mesecons, moreblocks, stairs, vessels, wool