First Hour Optimal Play

Step-by-step optimal decisions for the first 60 minutes of CONTRABAND: Edge of the Fold. Minor prologue spoilers but no narrative reveals.

Setup: account and preferences

Before starting, decide whether to sign into Firebase (optional but recommended). Signed-in sessions sync saves across devices. Signed-out sessions use localStorage only — fine for a single-device player, risky if you want to continue on a phone later.

Set audio preferences. The game's procedural music is quiet and ambient; it is designed to be played at low-medium volume. Combat sound effects are distinct enough that you do not need to turn sound off to read dialog.

Minutes 0-5: Prologue

You open at Verge Station, Gate 17. The dispatcher offers the cargo run.

1. Peek inside the crate — Not "Take the run" and not "Walk away." Peeking is what opens the full decision tree.
2. Save the child — Granted +25 Weaver reputation, unlocks The Child crew member later, and opens 8+ content pieces across the game.

The prologue ends with you accepting a course to Keros-4.

Minutes 5-15: Arrival in the Verge, setup

Before leaving Verge Station, do the following:

1. Check the Mission Board. Take 2-3 short cargo missions (each 500-1,200cr). Completing them gives you starting capital.
2. Visit the shipyard. Do not buy a new ship yet — you do not have the credits. Note that the Courier (9,000cr) is your likely first upgrade.
3. Visit the crew lounge. Hire Mara Voss (Navigator) for 8,000cr as soon as you can afford it. Her -15% fuel discount pays back within 2-3 hours of play.

Minutes 15-30: First jumps, first trades

Jump to Verge-2 and pick up refined ore at 450cr/unit. Fill your cargo hold. Jump to Keros-3 and sell at 630cr/unit for a 40% margin. This is the Chapter 1 standard trade route.

While in Keros, take the opportunity to visit Keros-7 and meet the Traveling Merchant. They sell nav data (5,000cr) that reveals unexplored systems. Buy one if you can afford it; otherwise, note the location for later.

Minutes 30-45: Approach Keros-4

Before heading to Keros-4, make sure you have:

• 2+ Fuel Cells in inventory (500cr each)
• At least one Repair Kit (rare drop or 2,000cr)
• 15,000+ credits in the bank (for post-encounter upgrade)

When you arrive at Keros-4, the Vex encounter begins. This is the first major decision point. Recommended choice: Listen and understand. This opens the Weaver alliance path and grants +50 Vex reputation.

Minutes 45-60: Post-Vex transition

After the Vex encounter, you have a brief window before Chapter 2 content loads. Use it to:

1. Return to Verge Station and sell accumulated goods.
2. Upgrade to Courier (9,000cr) if you haven't already. The extra cargo transforms your per-trip profit.
3. Hire Brood-7 (Engineer, 12,000cr) at Keros-7 when you can afford it. His +10 HP per jump is significant.
4. Complete 2-3 more cargo missions to bank another 5,000-8,000cr.

By the 60-minute mark, ideal state:

• Courier ship (9,000cr purchase)
• Mara Voss hired (8,000cr)
• 20,000-30,000cr in bank
• Weaver reputation at +25 (from saved child) to +35 (with one courier mission completed)
• Vex reputation at +50
• Ready to pursue Chapter 2 content

Common first-hour mistakes

• Buying upgrades too early — Don't spend credits on upgrades before you've made your ship transition. Ship first, upgrades second.
• Exploring instead of trading — Exploration has lore value but no credit value. Trade first, explore later.
• Skipping Vex's explanation — Listening seems slow. Skipping costs you 50 reputation and closes the Weaver path.
• Engaging every Scourge encounter — Your starter Scout is weak. Escape combat you cannot reliably win.

Pace expectations

60 minutes is a comfortable first-hour pace. Rushing can compress this to 45 minutes; savoring environmental details can extend it to 90. Both are valid. The game does not time-pressure first-run players, and the optimal path is less about speed than about making each decision intentionally.