> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gritlands.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Your First Hour in Gritlands: New Player Walkthrough

> A step-by-step walkthrough of your opening session — from stepping off the bus at Grit Lake to your first sale, first meal, and first fight.

Your first session in Gritlands takes you from the bus stop at Grit Lake through gathering, cooking, selling, and your first taste of combat — all with Uncle Roger guiding you along the way. The game teaches you its systems as you go, so follow his lead, try everything he puts in front of you, and don't skip ahead. By the time you look across the water at the city skyline, you'll know exactly how the world works and what it takes to reach it.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get Off the Bus">
    You arrive at Grit Lake. Uncle Roger is waiting at the stop and hands you his old **fishing rod, axe, and phone**. The phone is your interface for everything in the game — your stats, the map, the player marketplace, your friends list, and your messages. Take a minute to explore each tab before you move on. [More on the phone →](/getting-started/the-phone)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build Your Tent">
    Roger gives you a tarp and points you toward a clear patch of ground. Gather a small amount of wood and stone — chop the nearest trees with your axe and pick up loose rocks from the ground — then raise your tent. Your tent is your home base: it stores your gear, protects your stash, and gives you a respawn point. Build it before you do anything else.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Gather Your First Goods">
    Now that you have a home, start filling your pack. Cast your fishing rod off the dock to catch a few fish, chop a stack of timber from the tree line, and rummage through the junk pile near Roger's cabin for scrap. Try every activity — you'll see your gathering skills tick up fast in these early minutes, and the variety will come in handy.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make Your First CASH">
    Walk your haul over to **Sal's general store** and sell it. Sal runs the Fence — the one mechanism in the game that converts raw goods into fresh CASH. This is where money enters the economy. Congratulations: you're solvent. Keep a mental note of what Sal paid for each item; those prices shape everything you do from here. [How the Fence works →](/economy/the-fence)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cook a Meal">
    Roger walks you to the campfire and shows you how to cook. Throw a fish on the fire and eat it to restore your energy. Energy is the resource that limits how long and how hard you can gather or fight in a session — keeping it topped up is the habit that separates good players from burned-out ones. This is the core loop: gather, cook, eat, repeat.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deal with the Cellar">
    Roger's got rats under his cabin and a problem you can solve. He hands you a pipe wrench and sends you down the cellar steps for your first taste of combat. The rats won't put up much of a fight — focus on learning the timing and the stamina cost of each swing. When you're done, **keep the wrench**. It's your first weapon and it'll serve you well until you can craft or buy something better.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Look at the Skyline">
    Step out of Roger's yard and face the water. Across the lake, rising above the treeline on the far shore, is Grit City — and at its center, Grit Tower. That's where you're going. When you feel ready, the bus from the lake stop runs to town. There's no rush, but now you know the destination.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Don't rush to leave Grit Lake. Spend a few sessions mastering gathering, cooking, and selling before you take the bus to the city. The lake is a safe zone — nothing here can take your inventory. The moment you cross into Millside or go underground, that protection disappears, so arrive prepared.
</Tip>

## What to do next

Once you've completed your first session and feel comfortable with the basics, these two guides will take you further.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="The Core Loop" icon="repeat" href="/getting-started/the-core-loop">
    Understand the rhythm every session follows once you're past the tutorial, and the key decision that defines every run.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Skills and Stats" icon="chart-line" href="/getting-started/skills-and-stats">
    Learn the difference between the two ways your character grows, and why it matters for how you spend your time.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>