What are the best NPC housing designs for early-game Terraria?
In early-game Terraria, creating effective NPC housing is essential for ensuring your NPCs move in and stay happy. NPC housing mechanics are straightforward but require attention to detail. Each NPC needs a valid house, which is a fully enclosed space with walls, a light source, a flat surface item (like a table or workbench), and a comfort item (like a chair). The house must also have a door or other entrance, and the background walls must be player-placed, not naturally occurring. NPCs will only move into a house if it meets these requirements and is in a suitable biome.
To start building early-game NPC housing, gather basic materials like wood, stone, and torches. Wood is the most accessible material, as you can chop down trees with an axe. Stone can be mined from underground or surface caves. Torches are crafted from wood and gel, which drops from slimes. Once you have these materials, find a flat area near your spawn point or a central location to build your housing. This makes it easier to access NPCs and manage their needs.
Begin by constructing a simple rectangular room. The room should be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall to accommodate the NPC and their furniture. Place a workbench or table in the room, along with a chair. Add a torch for light, and ensure the walls are fully covered with player-placed walls. Leave a 2-block-wide gap for a door or platform entrance. Repeat this process to create multiple rooms, as each NPC requires their own house.
One important tip is to build vertically stacked housing. This saves space and makes it easier to manage multiple NPCs. For example, you can build a tower with several floors, each containing a room for an NPC. Use platforms or stairs to connect the floors, ensuring NPCs can move freely. This design is efficient and works well in early-game when resources are limited.
Avoid common mistakes like using natural walls or leaving gaps in the walls. Natural walls, such as those found in caves, do not count as valid housing walls. Gaps in the walls can also invalidate the house, so double-check your construction. Another mistake is placing furniture too close to the walls, which can prevent NPCs from moving in. Leave at least one block of space between the furniture and the walls.
Advanced techniques include optimizing NPC happiness by placing them in their preferred biomes and near their favorite neighbors. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Merchant. The Nurse prefers the Hallow biome and likes living with the Arms Dealer. While these preferences are more relevant in mid-to-late game, planning ahead can save time and resources later. You can also use pylons, which are teleportation devices unlocked by keeping NPCs happy, to create fast travel networks between biomes.
Resource requirements for early-game housing are minimal. You will need wood, stone, and torches, which are easy to gather. If you want to add decorative elements, consider using clay, glass, or other materials you find while exploring. These are not necessary but can make your housing more visually appealing.
Class and equipment considerations are not directly tied to housing, but having a good pickaxe and axe will speed up resource gathering. A copper or tin pickaxe is sufficient for mining stone, while a wooden axe works for chopping trees. As you progress, upgrading your tools will make building faster and more efficient.
A specific example of early-game housing is a simple wooden tower near your spawn point. Build a 6x10 room on the ground floor, then stack identical rooms above it. Use wooden platforms for the floors and stairs to connect the levels. Place a workbench, chair, and torch in each room, and ensure the walls are fully covered with wooden walls. This design is easy to expand and works well for housing multiple NPCs.
In summary, early-game NPC housing in Terraria requires basic materials and careful construction. Build simple, enclosed rooms with furniture and light, and avoid common mistakes like using natural walls or leaving gaps. Stacking rooms vertically saves space, and planning for NPC happiness can optimize your housing layout. With these strategies, you can create effective housing for your NPCs and set the foundation for a thriving town.
To start building early-game NPC housing, gather basic materials like wood, stone, and torches. Wood is the most accessible material, as you can chop down trees with an axe. Stone can be mined from underground or surface caves. Torches are crafted from wood and gel, which drops from slimes. Once you have these materials, find a flat area near your spawn point or a central location to build your housing. This makes it easier to access NPCs and manage their needs.
Begin by constructing a simple rectangular room. The room should be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall to accommodate the NPC and their furniture. Place a workbench or table in the room, along with a chair. Add a torch for light, and ensure the walls are fully covered with player-placed walls. Leave a 2-block-wide gap for a door or platform entrance. Repeat this process to create multiple rooms, as each NPC requires their own house.
One important tip is to build vertically stacked housing. This saves space and makes it easier to manage multiple NPCs. For example, you can build a tower with several floors, each containing a room for an NPC. Use platforms or stairs to connect the floors, ensuring NPCs can move freely. This design is efficient and works well in early-game when resources are limited.
Avoid common mistakes like using natural walls or leaving gaps in the walls. Natural walls, such as those found in caves, do not count as valid housing walls. Gaps in the walls can also invalidate the house, so double-check your construction. Another mistake is placing furniture too close to the walls, which can prevent NPCs from moving in. Leave at least one block of space between the furniture and the walls.
Advanced techniques include optimizing NPC happiness by placing them in their preferred biomes and near their favorite neighbors. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Merchant. The Nurse prefers the Hallow biome and likes living with the Arms Dealer. While these preferences are more relevant in mid-to-late game, planning ahead can save time and resources later. You can also use pylons, which are teleportation devices unlocked by keeping NPCs happy, to create fast travel networks between biomes.
Resource requirements for early-game housing are minimal. You will need wood, stone, and torches, which are easy to gather. If you want to add decorative elements, consider using clay, glass, or other materials you find while exploring. These are not necessary but can make your housing more visually appealing.
Class and equipment considerations are not directly tied to housing, but having a good pickaxe and axe will speed up resource gathering. A copper or tin pickaxe is sufficient for mining stone, while a wooden axe works for chopping trees. As you progress, upgrading your tools will make building faster and more efficient.
A specific example of early-game housing is a simple wooden tower near your spawn point. Build a 6x10 room on the ground floor, then stack identical rooms above it. Use wooden platforms for the floors and stairs to connect the levels. Place a workbench, chair, and torch in each room, and ensure the walls are fully covered with wooden walls. This design is easy to expand and works well for housing multiple NPCs.
In summary, early-game NPC housing in Terraria requires basic materials and careful construction. Build simple, enclosed rooms with furniture and light, and avoid common mistakes like using natural walls or leaving gaps. Stacking rooms vertically saves space, and planning for NPC happiness can optimize your housing layout. With these strategies, you can create effective housing for your NPCs and set the foundation for a thriving town.