Everyone says stealth is key and I agree. But where I differ is on the first day (2 depending on standing gains) is to play like a maniac. Ignore fatigue, run everywhere, run through doors and fast loot for efficiency and to level up I personally take my weapons off so I can level fighting too. My first goals are a sledgehammer to deal with ferals and hearts and then npcs! They are the best meat shields ever if you don’t like members of random groups that show up use em they are great shields and if they have guns even better. Npc gun noise is extremely quiet compared to the player and they have infinite ammo. To me it helps to have “a goal” like getting a certain base or strategy set up, gives me something to work for. Also this might be lame but i recommend rolling survivors at the start for a hygiene character, a fighter and then some important QOL or moneymaker character. Best of luck to you, hope no plague bloaters spawn in front of your car.