What are the best NPC housing setups for expert mode Terraria?
In expert mode Terraria, managing NPC housing setups is crucial for maximizing NPC happiness, which directly impacts their prices and the availability of unique items. The happiness system is based on three main factors: biome preference, neighbor preference, and overcrowding. Each NPC has specific likes and dislikes for biomes and neighbors, and placing them in crowded areas will decrease their happiness. To achieve the best NPC housing setups, you need to carefully plan your town layout, consider biome preferences, and avoid overcrowding.
First, let's discuss the mechanics of NPC happiness. Each NPC has a preferred biome and a list of neighbors they like or dislike. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living near the Zoologist, but dislikes the Merchant. Placing NPCs in their preferred biome and near liked neighbors will increase their happiness, leading to discounts on their items and the possibility of selling unique items like pylons. Pylons are special teleportation devices that allow quick travel between biomes, but they only function if the NPCs in that area are happy.
To start, you should identify the preferred biomes for each NPC. The Forest biome is a common starting point, as many NPCs like it. However, others prefer more specific biomes like the Desert, Snow, Jungle, or Ocean. You can create artificial biomes by placing enough biome-specific blocks or walls in an area. For example, placing 1,500 sand blocks will create a Desert biome. This allows you to build housing in any location while still meeting biome preferences.
Next, consider neighbor preferences. Some NPCs have strong likes or dislikes for specific neighbors. For example, the Arms Dealer loves the Nurse but dislikes the Demolitionist. Pairing NPCs with their liked neighbors will boost happiness, while placing them near disliked neighbors will decrease it. You can find a full list of NPC preferences on the Terraria wiki or in-game by talking to NPCs and checking their dialogue.
Avoid overcrowding by spreading out your NPC housing. Each town should have no more than three NPCs to prevent overcrowding penalties. You can create multiple small towns in different biomes, each housing a few NPCs. This not only prevents overcrowding but also allows you to place pylons in each biome for fast travel.
When building housing, ensure each NPC has a valid room. A valid room must be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall, with walls, a light source, a table, a chair, and a door or platform entrance. You can use platforms as doors to save space and make the housing more compact. Use background walls to separate rooms and prevent enemies from spawning inside.
Resource requirements for building NPC housing include wood, stone, and biome-specific materials. For example, building in the Desert biome requires sand blocks, while the Snow biome requires ice blocks. You can gather these materials early in the game by exploring and mining. Crafting stations like the workbench and sawmill are essential for creating furniture and walls.
Advanced techniques include using teleporters and wiring to create efficient travel networks between towns. You can also use actuators to create hidden doors or passages, allowing you to access NPCs without disrupting the town's layout. Additionally, you can use paint and decorative items to make your towns visually appealing while still meeting NPC housing requirements.
Common mistakes to avoid include placing too many NPCs in one area, ignoring biome preferences, and neglecting neighbor preferences. Overcrowding will significantly reduce happiness, making items more expensive and preventing pylons from functioning. Ignoring biome and neighbor preferences will also decrease happiness, so always check NPC preferences before placing them.
In terms of class and equipment considerations, building NPC housing does not require specific gear. However, having a good pickaxe and building tools like the Architect Gizmo Pack can speed up construction. If you are building in dangerous biomes like the Jungle or Corruption, bring appropriate weapons and armor to defend yourself.
Specific examples include creating a Forest town with the Guide, Zoologist, and Merchant. The Guide and Zoologist like each other, and the Merchant is neutral, making this a good starting setup. In the Desert, you can place the Arms Dealer and Nurse together, as they love each other. In the Snow biome, the Mechanic and Goblin Tinkerer make a good pair, as they like each other.
In conclusion, achieving the best NPC housing setups in expert mode Terraria requires careful planning, attention to biome and neighbor preferences, and avoiding overcrowding. By creating multiple small towns in different biomes, pairing liked neighbors, and using efficient building techniques, you can maximize NPC happiness and unlock valuable benefits like pylons and discounted items.
First, let's discuss the mechanics of NPC happiness. Each NPC has a preferred biome and a list of neighbors they like or dislike. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living near the Zoologist, but dislikes the Merchant. Placing NPCs in their preferred biome and near liked neighbors will increase their happiness, leading to discounts on their items and the possibility of selling unique items like pylons. Pylons are special teleportation devices that allow quick travel between biomes, but they only function if the NPCs in that area are happy.
To start, you should identify the preferred biomes for each NPC. The Forest biome is a common starting point, as many NPCs like it. However, others prefer more specific biomes like the Desert, Snow, Jungle, or Ocean. You can create artificial biomes by placing enough biome-specific blocks or walls in an area. For example, placing 1,500 sand blocks will create a Desert biome. This allows you to build housing in any location while still meeting biome preferences.
Next, consider neighbor preferences. Some NPCs have strong likes or dislikes for specific neighbors. For example, the Arms Dealer loves the Nurse but dislikes the Demolitionist. Pairing NPCs with their liked neighbors will boost happiness, while placing them near disliked neighbors will decrease it. You can find a full list of NPC preferences on the Terraria wiki or in-game by talking to NPCs and checking their dialogue.
Avoid overcrowding by spreading out your NPC housing. Each town should have no more than three NPCs to prevent overcrowding penalties. You can create multiple small towns in different biomes, each housing a few NPCs. This not only prevents overcrowding but also allows you to place pylons in each biome for fast travel.
When building housing, ensure each NPC has a valid room. A valid room must be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall, with walls, a light source, a table, a chair, and a door or platform entrance. You can use platforms as doors to save space and make the housing more compact. Use background walls to separate rooms and prevent enemies from spawning inside.
Resource requirements for building NPC housing include wood, stone, and biome-specific materials. For example, building in the Desert biome requires sand blocks, while the Snow biome requires ice blocks. You can gather these materials early in the game by exploring and mining. Crafting stations like the workbench and sawmill are essential for creating furniture and walls.
Advanced techniques include using teleporters and wiring to create efficient travel networks between towns. You can also use actuators to create hidden doors or passages, allowing you to access NPCs without disrupting the town's layout. Additionally, you can use paint and decorative items to make your towns visually appealing while still meeting NPC housing requirements.
Common mistakes to avoid include placing too many NPCs in one area, ignoring biome preferences, and neglecting neighbor preferences. Overcrowding will significantly reduce happiness, making items more expensive and preventing pylons from functioning. Ignoring biome and neighbor preferences will also decrease happiness, so always check NPC preferences before placing them.
In terms of class and equipment considerations, building NPC housing does not require specific gear. However, having a good pickaxe and building tools like the Architect Gizmo Pack can speed up construction. If you are building in dangerous biomes like the Jungle or Corruption, bring appropriate weapons and armor to defend yourself.
Specific examples include creating a Forest town with the Guide, Zoologist, and Merchant. The Guide and Zoologist like each other, and the Merchant is neutral, making this a good starting setup. In the Desert, you can place the Arms Dealer and Nurse together, as they love each other. In the Snow biome, the Mechanic and Goblin Tinkerer make a good pair, as they like each other.
In conclusion, achieving the best NPC housing setups in expert mode Terraria requires careful planning, attention to biome and neighbor preferences, and avoiding overcrowding. By creating multiple small towns in different biomes, pairing liked neighbors, and using efficient building techniques, you can maximize NPC happiness and unlock valuable benefits like pylons and discounted items.