What are the best NPC housing setups for master mode Terraria?

In Terraria, especially in Master Mode, managing NPC happiness is crucial for optimizing your gameplay experience. NPC happiness affects the prices of items they sell, the availability of certain items, and even the rate at which they sell unique items like pylons. To achieve the best NPC housing setups, you need to understand the mechanics of NPC happiness, plan your town layouts carefully, and consider the specific preferences of each NPC.

First, let's discuss the mechanics of NPC happiness. Each NPC has preferred biomes and neighbors. When an NPC is in their preferred biome and near their preferred neighbors, their happiness increases. Conversely, being in a disliked biome or near disliked neighbors decreases their happiness. Happiness levels are represented by three states: happy, neutral, and unhappy. Happy NPCs sell items at a discount and may offer unique items like pylons, which allow for fast travel between biomes. Unhappy NPCs sell items at higher prices and may refuse to sell certain items altogether.

To start, you need to identify the preferred biomes and neighbors for each NPC. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Zoologist or Clothier. The Merchant prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Golfer or Nurse. The Arms Dealer prefers the Desert biome and likes living with the Nurse or Steampunker. The Goblin Tinkerer prefers the Underground biome and likes living with the Mechanic or Dye Trader. These are just a few examples, and you should consult the Terraria wiki for a complete list of preferences.

Next, plan your town layouts. You can create multiple towns in different biomes to accommodate the preferences of various NPCs. For example, you can have a Forest town with the Guide, Merchant, Golfer, and Nurse. A Desert town can house the Arms Dealer, Nurse, and Steampunker. An Underground town can house the Goblin Tinkerer, Mechanic, and Dye Trader. Each town should have enough houses to accommodate the NPCs and their preferred neighbors.

When building houses, ensure they meet the basic requirements: a solid background wall, a light source, a flat surface item, a comfort item, and an entrance. Houses should be at least 6 blocks tall and 10 blocks wide, but you can adjust the size based on your design preferences. Use platforms or doors for entrances, and place furniture like chairs, tables, and torches to meet the comfort and light requirements.

To optimize happiness, place NPCs in their preferred biomes and near their preferred neighbors. For example, in a Forest town, place the Guide and Zoologist in adjacent houses. In a Desert town, place the Arms Dealer and Nurse in adjacent houses. In an Underground town, place the Goblin Tinkerer and Mechanic in adjacent houses. This setup ensures that each NPC is happy and offers discounts on their items.

Avoid common mistakes like placing NPCs in disliked biomes or near disliked neighbors. For example, the Arms Dealer dislikes the Snow biome and the Goblin Tinkerer. Placing them in these conditions will decrease their happiness and increase their prices. Also, avoid overcrowding towns with too many NPCs, as this can lead to neutral or unhappy states.

Advanced techniques include using pylons for fast travel between towns. To unlock pylons, you need at least two NPCs in a biome who are happy enough to sell the pylon for that biome. For example, in a Forest town, the Guide and Zoologist can sell the Forest Pylon if they are happy. Place pylons in strategic locations to create a fast travel network across your world.

Resource requirements for building towns include wood, stone, and various furniture items. You can gather wood from trees, stone from underground, and craft furniture using a workbench and sawmill. Preparation involves gathering these resources and planning your town layouts before starting construction.

Class and equipment considerations are minimal for NPC housing, but having a good pickaxe and building tools can speed up construction. The Architect Gizmo Pack, available from the Traveling Merchant, is useful for precise building.

In summary, achieving the best NPC housing setups in Master Mode Terraria involves understanding NPC happiness mechanics, planning town layouts, and placing NPCs in their preferred biomes and near their preferred neighbors. Avoid common mistakes, use advanced techniques like pylons, and gather the necessary resources for construction. By following these strategies, you can create thriving towns with happy NPCs, discounts on items, and fast travel options.