Build Relationships Efficiently in My Time at Sandrock
In My Time at Sandrock, most befriendable townsfolk use relationship points (RP), which is a hidden score that moves you through tiers like Buddy and Friend. Romanceable characters can also move into heart-based romance tiers. If you are new, keep it simple: focus on 2-4 people first instead of trying to befriend the whole town at once. Daily chats, planned gifts, and commission turn-ins build steady progress without burnout.
Use the Social menu and Calendar as one planning board. The Social menu tracks gift preferences you have learned and each character’s relationship status. Birthdays are added to your Calendar after you reach Associate with that character and they share the date. A commission is a timed workshop request from the Commerce Guild Commission Board. Completing commissions gives gols and, in most cases, relationship points with the requester, so choosing commissions from your target NPCs is a strong early-game routine.
Gift Priority That Actually Works
Choose quality over clutter. Each NPC normally accepts one gift per day, so make that one gift count. Birthday gifts are worth triple RP, and festival-activity gifts are worth double, so save your best options for those windows. If you do not know a favorite yet, test safe craftable items and note reactions as you learn. Do not spend rare upgrade materials for tiny gains.
Romance and Marriage Planning
Treat romance as a midgame goal, not a Day 1 sprint. In practice, you move from friendship into dating by giving a Heart Knot to an eligible character once you reach at least Friend status. Before marriage, get your workshop income and home setup stable so regular social time, gifts, and upgrades stay fun instead of stressful.
For the fastest practical route, pick your future partner early, run their commissions when available, talk daily, and time gifts around birthdays and festivals. Then let story and side quests add extra relationship gains over time. This loop is consistent, low-stress, and very effective for first-time Sandrock players.