Passing Schedule 1 means rising from a homeless newcomer with $0 to the most powerful drug kingpin in Hyland Point. There is no single ending in the traditional sense: the game measures success through your net worth, your dealer network, your territory control, and your ability to avoid arrest while scaling your operation. This guide covers every stage.
Stage 1: Complete the Prologue
Begin your journey by completing the prologue, which introduces you to the game’s mechanics and sets the stage for your rise in the underworld. Prologue completion awards the “Left in the Dust” achievement and the “Welcome to Hyland Point” achievement after encountering your first unexpected setback.
The prologue teaches you the fundamental loop: manufacture, sell, manage risk. Do not skip dialogue during this phase. The NPC introductions in the prologue establish relationships that matter in the mid-game.
Stage 2: Recruit Your First Dealer
As you establish your presence, recruit your first dealer, such as Benji, to expand your distribution network. This awards the “Dodgy Dealing” achievement.
Dealers scale your operation beyond what solo street dealing can achieve. Your first dealer unlocks the distribution mechanic that drives all subsequent growth. Prioritize this as soon as the prologue allows.
Stage 3: Scale Manufacturing to $100
Manufacture a product worth at least $100 to earn the “Master Chef” achievement. This milestone marks the transition from starter operations to a real production setup.
Stage 4: Manage Police Attention
The “Long Arm of the Law” achievement is earned by getting arrested. This happens to almost every player and represents the first major lesson: your heat level must be actively managed.
Police management strategies:
- Use Cash for Trash machines to dispose of evidence and reduce your heat level
- Do not manufacture or transport during peak police patrol hours
- Keep manufacturing locations in low-heat zones rather than central areas
- Earn the “Upstanding Citizen” achievement by disposing of 500 pieces of trash as a heat management habit
Stage 5: Hit the Net Worth Milestones
The three major empire milestones mark clear progression checkpoints:
| Achievement | Net Worth Required | What It Represents |
|---|---|---|
| Businessman | $100,000 | Established operation |
| Bigwig | $1,000,000 | Significant criminal enterprise |
| Magnate | $10,000,000 | Full kingpin status |
Path to $100,000:
- Maintain at least 2 to 3 active dealers running distribution simultaneously
- Keep product quality high through upgraded manufacturing equipment
- Service relationship customers before casual buyers to maximize weekly income
Path to $1,000,000:
- Expand manufacturing to multiple properties
- Recruit 5 or more dealers with diversified territory coverage
- Begin managing logistics efficiency: route optimization, timing deliveries to avoid police overlap
Path to $10,000,000:
- Maximum dealer network running in coordinated distribution shifts
- Premium product with the highest quality tier manufacturing equipment
- Logistics system with drivers handling routine transport
Proven Strategies for Passing Schedule 1
Strategy 1: Prioritize dealer quality over dealer count early
One well-placed dealer with a strong customer relationship list outperforms three poorly positioned dealers. Before expanding your dealer count, maximize the relationship depth of your first two dealers.
Strategy 2: Reinvest immediately
Every dollar that sits in your balance is a dollar not generating more dollars through property acquisition or equipment upgrades. The slowest empires are ones that hoard early profits instead of reinvesting them.
Strategy 3: Use co-op for division of labor
If playing with friends, assign dedicated roles: one person manages manufacturing, one manages dealer oversight, one handles police monitoring and clean-up. The efficiency gain over everyone doing everything is significant.
Strategy 4: Keep a property specifically for storage
Mixing manufacturing and storage in the same property creates risk: a raid on your manufacturing property also exposes your product stockpile. Separate the two functions as early as your budget allows.
Pro Tips: Passing Schedule 1
- Do not ignore the sewer network when it arrives: Roadmap content includes underground transport routes that bypass surface police visibility. This changes movement strategy significantly.
- Check Gas Mart locations carefully: GasMart West does not have a Loading Bay. If you need a Loading Bay, always use Gas Mart Central.
- Use the Settime console command for time management: Settime 0600 sets in-game time to 6 AM, useful for timing deliveries around police patrol schedules.
Play Schedule 1 with ExitLag
In co-op, connection issues directly affect NPC behavior synchronization and transaction timing. ExitLag optimizes your routing to Steam’s servers, keeping co-op sessions stable and delivery runs free from latency-induced desync.
Download ExitLag and try it free.
Schedule 1 and related marks are trademarks of TVGS. Used for informational and educational purposes only.
Got questions or want to connect with other players? Join the conversation at the ExitLag Forum!
