Welcome To Los Santos

This is the NeuroState player guide — whether it's your first FiveM server ever or your fiftieth roleplay community, everything you need to get on your feet is right here.

Before You Spawn

Joining is quick — just a few steps between you and your first spawn in the city.

Join Discord

Everything — announcements, verification, and support — happens in our Discord server first.

Read the Rules

Skim isn't enough — the Rules page covers what's expected of you in every scene.

Verify

Verify in Discord to unlock the server and get the role(s) tied to your character(s) — no lengthy application or approval wait.

Connect & Create

Once you're verified, connect through the FiveM client and build your first character.

Tip: Read the rules before you verify — it's the single fastest way to avoid getting tripped up later. Whitelisted department and business roles have their own separate applications; see Apply for those.

Creating Your Character

Your character is more than an appearance — it's who you'll be in every interaction on the server.

Keep It Believable

You don't need a tragic backstory. A grounded, realistic person is easier to play — and more fun — than an over-the-top one.

Loose Is Fine

You don't need every detail worked out before you spawn. Plenty of backstory forms naturally through play.

Tie In the City

Curious how your character might fit into Los Santos itself? The Server Lore page is a good starting point.

Learning the Basics

A few systems you'll lean on constantly once you're in the city.

Movement & Interaction

Basic GTA V movement controls apply, plus an interaction menu for context-sensitive actions like sitting, trading, and using items.

Your Phone

Messaging, banking, job apps, and marketplace listings all live on your in-game phone — check it often.

Inventory & Items

Everything you carry, craft, or find has weight and space limits — manage it like you would in real life.

Voice & Proximity

Voice chat is distance-based — people nearby hear you, people far away don't. Use it to your advantage.

Tip: If you're new to FiveM entirely, expect a short adjustment period. It clicks fast once you're actually playing.

Roleplay Etiquette

A few habits separate new players who settle in fast from those who struggle early.

Stay In Character

Keep out-of-character chat to designated channels so scenes around you stay immersive.

No Metagaming

Only act on information your character actually learned in-character — not what you saw in Discord or overheard on another channel.

Play Your Fear

Real danger should feel real. Reacting realistically to threats and injury is a core part of good roleplay.

Report, Don't Retaliate

If something feels wrong, open a ticket in Discord instead of resolving it in-character or in-game.

Tip: All of this is covered in more detail on the Rules page — it's worth a full read before your first session.

Your First Hour: A Suggested Path

Not sure what to do first? Here's a simple order that works well for most new players.

  1. Step 1

    Spawn In & Look Around

    Get comfortable with the controls and your surroundings before doing anything else.

  2. Step 2

    Check Your Phone

    See what starting funds, messages, or jobs are already available to you.

  3. Step 3

    Take a Civilian Job

    Low-risk work is the easiest way to earn your first cash and get a feel for how jobs work — see Finding Work below.

  4. Step 4

    Explore the City

    Use the interactive map to find nearby shops, garages, and points of interest.

  5. Step 5

    Make Contact

    Strike up a conversation with another player. Most stories in Los Santos start with a simple interaction.

Finding Work

Every character needs an income. Los Santos offers three broad paths — see the full Jobs page for the complete list.

Civilian Careers

Low-barrier jobs like hunting, fishing, trucking, and taxi work — good for your first days in the city.

Emergency Services

Whitelisted careers with LSPD, BCSO, SAHP, Fire, and EMS. Applications open on the Departments page.

Criminal Careers

Higher risk, higher reward. See the Criminal Progression guide before diving in.

Tip: Start with a civilian job to build starting capital before taking on riskier work.

Making Money

NeuroState runs on a player-driven economy — there's no single "correct" way to get rich. Most players combine a few of these:

Grinding

Steady, low-risk income from civilian jobs like mining, farming, and trucking.

Ownership

Own a business and earn from sales, staffing, and reputation instead of a paycheck.

Risk-Taking

Criminal work pays more for more danger — check the risk/reward on the Criminal Progression page.

Tip: Keep a cash reserve. Getting arrested or caught up in a shootout can cost you what you're carrying.

Buying Vehicles

A reliable vehicle is one of the first big purchases most players make.

Dealerships

Placeholder — browse legal dealerships across the city for new and used vehicles, from daily drivers to high-end imports.

Maintenance

Placeholder — keep your vehicle insured and serviced at a mechanic shop to avoid breakdowns on the job.

Tip: Insure any vehicle you can't afford to lose — impounds and repossessions happen.

Housing

Somewhere to call home matters for roleplay and storage alike.

Renting

Placeholder — affordable apartments across the city, ideal for players just starting out.

Buying Property

Placeholder — purchase a house outright once you've built up enough savings, from modest homes to hillside estates.

Tip: A house isn't just storage — it's a safe place to roleplay downtime with friends and crewmates.

Businesses

Ready to stop working for someone else? Own a piece of the city yourself. Restaurants, mechanics, dealerships, retail, and more are all player-run — see the full Businesses directory.

Storefronts

Open a restaurant, shop, or service business and set your own prices.

Growth

Hire other players as staff and expand into multiple locations.

Tip: Business slots are limited — ask about availability in Discord early.

Crime

The underworld is a real, playable path — but it comes with real consequences. Read the Criminal Activities overview and the Criminal Progression ladder before you start.

Low-Risk Entry

Burglary and small-time theft are accessible starting points with light consequences.

Organized Crime

The top of the ladder — territory, crews, and rackets, with everything on the line.

Tip: All criminal RP still follows the combat, RP, and punishment rules on the Rules page — read them first.

Emergency Services

Prefer to serve the city instead? Whitelisted departments keep Los Santos running. Full details on the Emergency Services and Departments pages.

Police

LSPD, BCSO, and SAHP enforce the law across the city and county.

Fire

Respond to fires, rescues, and hazards across Los Santos.

EMS

Provide emergency medical care and keep citizens alive.

Tip: Emergency services roles are whitelisted — check each department's requirements before applying.

Important Locations

Get familiar with the city before you need these in a hurry. Open the full interactive map for pins and a filterable directory.

Preview of the NeuroState city map Open Interactive Map →

Police Department

Mission Row — main police headquarters.

Pillbox Hospital

Downtown Los Santos — primary EMS hospital.

Fire Department

Central Los Santos — main fire station.

Tip: Use the map's filter bar to quickly find businesses, garages, and gang territory near you.

Ready to Start Your Story?

You've read the handbook — now go write your own chapter in Los Santos.

Apply Now