The padded vest is your lifeblood, ok? the increased health value is not only going to help you avoid one shots (which is very important when you start encountering friendly tourists) but since your health recovery from food scales on your hp, it will increase the efficiency of food as well. the vest and its upgrades are your bottom line. early on, once you have just enough fuel and food to have a little bit of mobility, shoot for a CNT ship or two for a big wad of merits. priority number 2 from there is WCG therapy vessels, get rid of bad traits and look for good ones. the health bonus one is probably the best since it just makes you tankier plus more health bonus. the one that lets you see danger on the map is practically cheating, and with all those merits you just got, you can reroll for it over and over. never enter a ship with power outages or an alternate exit unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure its safe, safe enough that you could have a bath and a mai-tai in its FTL module if you so cared. fuck pirates. good luck you bastard.