How do I make the Zoologist NPC happy in Terraria?

To make the Zoologist NPC happy in Terraria, you need to understand the NPC happiness system, which was introduced in the 1.4 update. This system allows NPCs to have preferences for specific biomes and neighbors, which directly affects their happiness levels. A happy NPC will offer discounts on their items and, in some cases, sell unique items that are otherwise unavailable. The Zoologist, in particular, has specific preferences that you need to cater to in order to maximize her happiness.

The Zoologist prefers to live in the Forest biome. This is her favorite biome, and placing her in a house here will significantly boost her happiness. Additionally, she likes to be near the Golfer and the Witch Doctor. The Golfer is another NPC who also prefers the Forest biome, making them good neighbors. The Witch Doctor, on the other hand, prefers the Jungle biome, so you will need to balance their placements carefully. If you place the Zoologist in the Forest biome with the Golfer as her neighbor, she will be very happy, and you will receive a discount on her items.

To start, you need to build a suitable house for the Zoologist in the Forest biome. The house should be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall, with walls, a door, a table, a chair, and a light source. Make sure the house is valid by checking with the housing query tool. Once the house is ready, you can assign the Zoologist to it. Next, build a house for the Golfer nearby, ensuring it is within 25 blocks of the Zoologist's house. This proximity will allow them to be neighbors, which will further increase the Zoologist's happiness.

One common mistake players make is placing the Zoologist in a biome she dislikes, such as the Desert or Snow biome. This will make her unhappy, and she will not offer discounts. Another mistake is placing her near NPCs she dislikes, such as the Arms Dealer or the Nurse. These NPCs will decrease her happiness, so it is important to avoid placing them nearby.

Advanced techniques involve optimizing the placement of multiple NPCs to maximize happiness across your town. For example, you can create a Forest biome town with the Zoologist, Golfer, and Guide, who also likes the Forest biome. This setup will keep all three NPCs happy and provide you with discounts from each of them. Additionally, you can use pylons to create a network of teleportation points, making it easier to travel between different biomes and towns.

Resource requirements for building a happy Zoologist setup are relatively simple. You will need wood, stone, and other basic building materials to construct the houses. If you want to create a more aesthetically pleasing town, you can use different types of wood and furniture to decorate the houses. Preparation involves gathering these materials and scouting a suitable location in the Forest biome.

Class and equipment considerations are not directly related to NPC happiness, but having a well-equipped character will make it easier to gather resources and build the necessary structures. For example, a character with a good pickaxe and axe will be able to gather wood and stone more efficiently. Additionally, having a grappling hook or wings will make it easier to navigate the terrain and build houses in hard-to-reach areas.

In specific scenarios, you might need to adjust your strategy based on the world's layout. For example, if your Forest biome is close to the Jungle biome, you can place the Witch Doctor nearby and still keep the Zoologist happy by ensuring she is closer to the Golfer. Alternatively, if your Forest biome is far from other biomes, you might need to create a separate town for the Zoologist and Golfer to keep them happy.

In conclusion, making the Zoologist happy in Terraria involves placing her in the Forest biome with the Golfer as her neighbor. Avoid placing her in disliked biomes or near NPCs she dislikes. Use advanced techniques to optimize your town layout and consider resource requirements and character equipment to make the process smoother. By following these steps, you can ensure the Zoologist is happy and take advantage of the discounts and unique items she offers.