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.

First, let's discuss the mechanics of NPC happiness. Each NPC has a preferred biome and a list of NPCs they like, love, dislike, or hate as neighbors. The Zoologist's preferred biome is the Forest. This means she will be happiest when housed in a Forest biome. Additionally, she loves the Golfer as a neighbor. If you place her in a Forest biome with the Golfer nearby, her happiness will be maximized. On the other hand, she dislikes the Angler and hates the Witch Doctor, so you should avoid placing her near these NPCs.

To start, you need to create a suitable housing area in the Forest biome. The Forest biome is the default surface biome, so you likely already have access to it. Build a house using wood or other materials, ensuring it meets the basic requirements for NPC housing: it must have walls, a door, a table, a chair, and a light source. Once the house is ready, assign the Zoologist to it. Next, build another house nearby for the Golfer. Make sure the two houses are close enough to be considered neighbors but not so close that they overlap.

Resource requirements for this setup are minimal. You will need wood, which is easily obtained by chopping down trees in the Forest biome. You may also need some stone and torches for additional furniture and lighting. If you don't already have the Golfer NPC, you will need to find him in the Underground Desert. He is usually found tied up and needs to be rescued. Once rescued, he will move into an available house.

Common mistakes to avoid include placing the Zoologist in the wrong biome or near NPCs she dislikes. For example, placing her in the Jungle biome, which is her disliked biome, will decrease her happiness. Similarly, placing her near the Angler or Witch Doctor will also reduce her happiness. Always double-check the biome and neighbor preferences before finalizing the housing arrangement.

Advanced techniques involve optimizing the layout of your NPC housing to maximize happiness for multiple NPCs. For example, you can create a small village in the Forest biome where the Zoologist and Golfer live together, while other NPCs with compatible preferences are placed nearby. This way, you can ensure that multiple NPCs are happy, leading to better discounts and unique items.

Class and equipment considerations are not directly relevant to making the Zoologist happy, as this task primarily involves building and NPC management. However, having a good set of tools, such as a fast pickaxe and a high-tier hammer, can make the building process quicker and more efficient. Additionally, having a Magic Mirror or Recall Potion can help you quickly travel between your base and other areas of the world.

In summary, to make the Zoologist happy, place her in a house in the Forest biome with the Golfer as her neighbor. Avoid placing her in the Jungle biome or near the Angler and Witch Doctor. Use wood and other basic materials to build suitable housing, and ensure the houses are close enough to be considered neighbors but not overlapping. By following these steps, you can maximize the Zoologist's happiness, leading to better prices and unique items.