How can I build a base in Terraria that is safe from Old One's Army events?

To build a base in Terraria that is safe from the Old One's Army events, you need to understand the mechanics of the event and how it interacts with your world. The Old One's Army is a wave-based defense event triggered by placing an Eternia Crystal Stand and an Eternia Crystal. The event spawns enemies that attack in waves, and your goal is to protect the crystal from being destroyed. However, if you want to avoid the event entirely, you need to ensure your base is not near the crystal stand or the event's spawn area.

First, let's discuss the mechanics. The Old One's Army event is tied to the Eternia Crystal Stand, which must be placed on a flat surface. The event spawns enemies from both sides of the stand, and they will path toward the crystal. If your base is too close to the stand, enemies may accidentally wander into your base during the event. To avoid this, you need to build your base far enough away from the stand so that enemies do not path toward your structures.

Step-by-step instructions for building a safe base start with choosing a location. Pick a spot that is at least 200 blocks away from where you plan to place the Eternia Crystal Stand. This distance ensures that enemies spawned during the event will not path toward your base. Once you have chosen a location, start building your base as you normally would, ensuring it meets all NPC housing requirements. Include walls, furniture, and lighting to make the rooms valid for NPCs.

Important tips and considerations include using natural barriers like cliffs or water to further separate your base from the event area. You can also build walls or trenches around your base to prevent enemies from accidentally wandering in. Additionally, avoid placing important structures like storage rooms or crafting stations near the event area, as they could be damaged during the event.

Common mistakes to avoid include building too close to the Eternia Crystal Stand or assuming that the event will not affect your base. Even if you do not plan to trigger the event, other players or NPCs might accidentally activate it, so it is best to prepare in advance. Another mistake is not considering the event's spawn mechanics, which can cause enemies to path toward your base if it is too close.

Advanced techniques or optimizations include creating a dedicated arena for the Old One's Army event. This arena should be far from your base and designed specifically for wave-based combat. Use traps, lava, and defensive structures to make the arena more effective. You can also build teleporters to quickly move between your base and the arena, ensuring you are always prepared for the event.

Resource requirements and preparation depend on the size and complexity of your base. You will need basic building materials like wood, stone, and glass, as well as furniture and lighting for NPC housing. If you plan to build a dedicated arena, you may need additional resources like traps, wiring, and defensive blocks. Stockpile these materials in advance to save time during construction.

Class and equipment considerations are less important for base building but still relevant if you plan to defend your base during the event. Melee classes can use strong armor and weapons to protect the crystal, while ranged and magic classes can focus on dealing damage from a distance. Summoners can use minions to help defend the crystal. Regardless of your class, ensure you have healing items and buffs to survive the event.

Specific examples and scenarios include building a base in the forest biome, which is a common starting area. Place your base on one side of the biome and the Eternia Crystal Stand on the opposite side, ensuring there is enough distance between them. Another scenario is building a base in the sky, which is naturally isolated from ground-based events. However, be cautious of flying enemies during the Old One's Army event.

In summary, building a base safe from the Old One's Army event requires careful planning and consideration of the event's mechanics. Choose a location far from the Eternia Crystal Stand, use natural barriers, and avoid common mistakes like building too close to the event area. Advanced techniques like creating a dedicated arena and using teleporters can further optimize your base. With proper preparation and resource management, you can create a safe and functional base in Terraria.