What are the best NPC housing designs for pre-boss Terraria?

In pre-boss Terraria, creating effective NPC housing is essential for ensuring your NPCs are happy, which can lead to discounts on their goods and access to unique items. The happiness system in Terraria is influenced by three main factors: biome preference, neighbor preference, and crowding. Each NPC has specific biomes they prefer and dislike, as well as neighbors they like or dislike being near. Crowding occurs when too many NPCs are housed close together, which reduces their happiness. To maximize happiness, you need to carefully plan your housing layout, considering these factors.

First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics of NPC housing. Each NPC requires a valid house to move in. A valid house must have walls, a light source, a table or workbench, a chair, and a door or platform entrance. The house must also be in a suitable biome and not too close to corruption or crimson. Once these conditions are met, NPCs will move in over time. However, to keep them happy, you need to consider their preferences. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Zoologist, while the Merchant prefers the Forest but dislikes the Tax Collector. Understanding these preferences is key to designing effective housing.

To start, gather the necessary resources for building. YouÔÇÖll need wood, stone, and other basic materials to construct houses. Early in the game, wood is the most accessible material, so focus on building wooden houses. Each house should be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall, with walls, a table, a chair, and a light source. You can use torches for lighting, and platforms can serve as doors. Make sure each house is fully enclosed and has a solid block floor to prevent enemies from spawning inside.

When placing houses, consider the biome and NPC preferences. For example, the Guide and Merchant are happy in the Forest biome, so build their houses there. The Nurse prefers the Hallow biome, but since youÔÇÖre in pre-boss Terraria, you wonÔÇÖt have access to the Hallow yet. Instead, focus on the Forest, Desert, and Underground biomes, which are accessible early in the game. Spread out the houses to avoid crowding. A good strategy is to build small clusters of 2-3 houses in different biomes, ensuring each NPC has their preferred biome and neighbors.

Avoid common mistakes like placing too many NPCs in one area. Crowding reduces happiness, so keep houses spaced out. Also, avoid building houses near corruption or crimson, as these biomes reduce happiness and can prevent NPCs from moving in. Make sure each house is valid by checking the housing menu. If a house is invalid, the game will tell you whatÔÇÖs missing, so you can fix it.

Advanced techniques include using pylons to create fast travel networks. Pylons are sold by NPCs when they are happy, and they allow you to teleport between biomes. To get pylons, you need at least two NPCs in a biome who are happy enough to sell them. For example, place the Guide and Zoologist in the Forest biome, and they will sell the Forest Pylon. This makes traveling between biomes much easier and is a great way to optimize your town layout.

Resource requirements for building are minimal in pre-boss Terraria. YouÔÇÖll need wood, stone, and torches, which are easy to gather. If you want to decorate houses, you can use furniture crafted from wood or found in chests. However, decoration is optional and doesnÔÇÖt affect NPC happiness directly. Focus on functionality first, then add decorations later if you want.

Class and equipment considerations are minimal for building, but having a good pickaxe and axe will make gathering resources faster. The Copper Pickaxe and Axe are sufficient early on, but upgrading to better tools like the Iron or Lead Pickaxe will speed up the process. Combat equipment isnÔÇÖt necessary for building, but having a weapon handy is always a good idea in case enemies spawn nearby.

In summary, the best NPC housing designs for pre-boss Terraria involve building small, spaced-out houses in preferred biomes, ensuring each house is valid, and avoiding crowding. Use wood and basic materials to construct houses, and consider NPC preferences when placing them. Avoid common mistakes like crowding and building near corruption. Advanced techniques like using pylons can optimize your town layout and make travel easier. With these strategies, you can create a happy and efficient NPC town in pre-boss Terraria.