What are the best NPC housing setups for pre-hardmode Terraria?
In pre-hardmode Terraria, setting up NPC housing effectively is crucial for managing NPC happiness, unlocking discounts, and ensuring your town thrives. NPC happiness is determined by their preferred biome and neighbors, which directly impacts the prices of their goods and services. A well-organized town can save you money and make gameplay smoother. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to creating the best NPC housing setups in pre-hardmode.
First, understand the mechanics of NPC happiness. Each NPC has a preferred biome and specific neighbors they like or dislike. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Merchant or Zoologist. The Nurse prefers the Hallow biome and likes the Arms Dealer. Placing NPCs in their preferred biome and pairing them with liked neighbors increases their happiness, reducing prices and unlocking unique items like the Pylon system, which allows fast travel between biomes.
To start, gather basic building materials like wood, stone, and torches. YouÔÇÖll need at least 10 wood to craft a workbench, which is essential for crafting furniture and walls. Build a simple house with walls, a door, a table, a chair, and a light source. Each house must meet these requirements to be valid for NPCs. Use the housing menu to check if a room is suitable.
Next, plan your town layout. In pre-hardmode, focus on the Forest biome since itÔÇÖs the easiest to access and most NPCs are neutral or happy there. Build multiple houses close together but ensure each has enough space to avoid overcrowding. Overcrowding reduces happiness, so keep at least 25 tiles between houses. Use platforms or bridges to connect houses if needed.
For specific NPC pairings, place the Guide and Merchant together in the Forest biome. This pairing is simple and effective, as both NPCs like each other and the Forest. The Nurse and Arms Dealer also work well together, but youÔÇÖll need to create a Hallow biome later in the game. For now, focus on the Forest biome and pair NPCs who like each other.
Avoid placing NPCs with disliked neighbors. For example, the Arms Dealer dislikes the Demolitionist, so keep them apart. Similarly, the Goblin Tinkerer dislikes the Mechanic, so separate them. Always check the NPC happiness menu to see how your placements affect their mood.
Resource management is key. Gather wood from trees and stone from underground. Use a sawmill to craft furniture like tables and chairs. Torches can be crafted from wood and gel, which drops from slimes. Keep a stockpile of these materials to build additional houses as new NPCs arrive.
Common mistakes include overcrowding NPCs, placing them in disliked biomes, or pairing them with disliked neighbors. Always check the housing menu to ensure each house is valid and NPCs are happy. Avoid building houses too close to corruption or crimson biomes, as these reduce happiness and can spread, destroying your town.
Advanced techniques include creating biome-specific towns. For example, build a small Forest town for the Guide and Merchant, and a separate Desert town for the Arms Dealer and Nurse. Use pylons to connect these towns for fast travel. This setup maximizes happiness and efficiency.
In terms of equipment, no specific gear is needed for building, but having a good pickaxe and axe speeds up resource gathering. A grappling hook or climbing gear helps with building tall structures. Use platforms and ropes to access higher areas when constructing multi-level houses.
For example, if youÔÇÖre preparing for the Goblin Army invasion, ensure your town is well-defended. Build walls around your town and place traps or lava moats to protect NPCs. Keep the Nurse nearby for quick healing during battles.
In summary, pre-hardmode NPC housing requires careful planning, resource management, and attention to NPC preferences. Build in the Forest biome, pair NPCs who like each other, and avoid overcrowding. Use the housing menu to check validity and happiness. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll create a thriving town that maximizes NPC happiness and unlocks valuable discounts and items.
First, understand the mechanics of NPC happiness. Each NPC has a preferred biome and specific neighbors they like or dislike. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Merchant or Zoologist. The Nurse prefers the Hallow biome and likes the Arms Dealer. Placing NPCs in their preferred biome and pairing them with liked neighbors increases their happiness, reducing prices and unlocking unique items like the Pylon system, which allows fast travel between biomes.
To start, gather basic building materials like wood, stone, and torches. YouÔÇÖll need at least 10 wood to craft a workbench, which is essential for crafting furniture and walls. Build a simple house with walls, a door, a table, a chair, and a light source. Each house must meet these requirements to be valid for NPCs. Use the housing menu to check if a room is suitable.
Next, plan your town layout. In pre-hardmode, focus on the Forest biome since itÔÇÖs the easiest to access and most NPCs are neutral or happy there. Build multiple houses close together but ensure each has enough space to avoid overcrowding. Overcrowding reduces happiness, so keep at least 25 tiles between houses. Use platforms or bridges to connect houses if needed.
For specific NPC pairings, place the Guide and Merchant together in the Forest biome. This pairing is simple and effective, as both NPCs like each other and the Forest. The Nurse and Arms Dealer also work well together, but youÔÇÖll need to create a Hallow biome later in the game. For now, focus on the Forest biome and pair NPCs who like each other.
Avoid placing NPCs with disliked neighbors. For example, the Arms Dealer dislikes the Demolitionist, so keep them apart. Similarly, the Goblin Tinkerer dislikes the Mechanic, so separate them. Always check the NPC happiness menu to see how your placements affect their mood.
Resource management is key. Gather wood from trees and stone from underground. Use a sawmill to craft furniture like tables and chairs. Torches can be crafted from wood and gel, which drops from slimes. Keep a stockpile of these materials to build additional houses as new NPCs arrive.
Common mistakes include overcrowding NPCs, placing them in disliked biomes, or pairing them with disliked neighbors. Always check the housing menu to ensure each house is valid and NPCs are happy. Avoid building houses too close to corruption or crimson biomes, as these reduce happiness and can spread, destroying your town.
Advanced techniques include creating biome-specific towns. For example, build a small Forest town for the Guide and Merchant, and a separate Desert town for the Arms Dealer and Nurse. Use pylons to connect these towns for fast travel. This setup maximizes happiness and efficiency.
In terms of equipment, no specific gear is needed for building, but having a good pickaxe and axe speeds up resource gathering. A grappling hook or climbing gear helps with building tall structures. Use platforms and ropes to access higher areas when constructing multi-level houses.
For example, if youÔÇÖre preparing for the Goblin Army invasion, ensure your town is well-defended. Build walls around your town and place traps or lava moats to protect NPCs. Keep the Nurse nearby for quick healing during battles.
In summary, pre-hardmode NPC housing requires careful planning, resource management, and attention to NPC preferences. Build in the Forest biome, pair NPCs who like each other, and avoid overcrowding. Use the housing menu to check validity and happiness. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll create a thriving town that maximizes NPC happiness and unlocks valuable discounts and items.