What are the best NPC pairings for early-game event preparation in Terraria?

In Terraria, preparing for early-game events like Blood Moons, Goblin Invasions, or even the first boss fights requires careful planning, especially when it comes to NPC pairings. NPC happiness plays a significant role in this preparation, as happy NPCs offer discounts on their items, which can save you valuable resources. Additionally, certain NPCs provide useful items or services that can make event preparation easier. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to optimize NPC pairings for early-game event preparation.

First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics of NPC happiness. Each NPC has preferred biomes and neighbors. When placed in their preferred biome and near NPCs they like, their happiness increases, leading to discounts on their items. Conversely, placing them in disliked biomes or near NPCs they dislike will decrease their happiness, increasing prices. For early-game events, youÔÇÖll want to focus on NPCs who provide essential items or services, such as the Merchant, Nurse, Arms Dealer, and Demolitionist.

To start, youÔÇÖll need to create suitable housing for your NPCs. Build small houses in the Forest biome, as itÔÇÖs the most neutral and accessible biome early in the game. Each house should be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall, with walls, a door, a table, a chair, and a light source. Make sure the houses are close enough to each other to allow NPCs to interact but not so close that they feel crowded.

Next, focus on pairing NPCs who like each other. For example, the Nurse and the Arms Dealer are a great early-game pairing. The Nurse provides healing services, which are crucial during events, and the Arms Dealer sells ammunition and weapons. Place them in the Forest biome, as both are neutral about this biome. This pairing will keep them happy, reducing the cost of their items and making it easier to stock up on healing potions and ammunition.

Another useful pairing is the Merchant and the Golfer. The Merchant sells basic supplies like torches, ropes, and tools, while the Golfer sells golf-related items that can be useful for mobility. Both NPCs like the Forest biome and enjoy each otherÔÇÖs company, making this a cost-effective pairing. Place them in separate houses but close enough to benefit from their happiness bonuses.

The Demolitionist is another key NPC for event preparation, as he sells explosives that can be used for mining or defending against invasions. Pair him with the Tavernkeep, as they both like the Underground biome. If youÔÇÖre preparing for a Goblin Invasion, having the Demolitionist nearby can be a game-changer, as his explosives can deal significant damage to groups of enemies.

When preparing for events, itÔÇÖs important to stock up on resources. Use the discounts from happy NPCs to buy healing potions, ammunition, and explosives. Craft weapons and armor that suit your class, whether youÔÇÖre focusing on melee, ranged, magic, or summoning. For example, if youÔÇÖre a ranged class, prioritize buying ammunition from the Arms Dealer and crafting a bow or gun. If youÔÇÖre a melee class, focus on crafting swords or yoyos and buying healing potions from the Nurse.

Common mistakes to avoid include placing NPCs in biomes they dislike or pairing them with NPCs they dislike. For example, the Arms Dealer dislikes the Nurse if sheÔÇÖs placed in the Snow biome, so always check their preferences before finalizing their housing. Another mistake is neglecting to build enough houses, which can lead to NPCs not moving in or being unhappy due to overcrowding.

Advanced techniques include creating biome-specific housing clusters. For example, you can build a small underground town for the Demolitionist and Tavernkeep, ensuring theyÔÇÖre happy and providing discounts on their items. You can also use teleporters to quickly move between different biome clusters, making it easier to access NPCs during events.

Resource requirements for early-game event preparation include wood, stone, and basic crafting materials like iron or lead bars. Make sure to gather enough of these materials to build houses and craft essential items. Preparation also involves mining for ores and exploring the surface for chests that contain useful loot.

In terms of class and equipment considerations, focus on upgrading your weapons and armor to match your chosen class. For example, if youÔÇÖre a ranged class, craft a bow and arrows or buy a gun from the Arms Dealer. If youÔÇÖre a melee class, craft a sword or yoyo and focus on increasing your defense with armor. Summoners should prioritize crafting summoning weapons and increasing their minion count.

Specific examples of early-game events include the Blood Moon and Goblin Invasion. During a Blood Moon, enemies are stronger and more numerous, so having the Nurse nearby for quick healing is essential. For a Goblin Invasion, the DemolitionistÔÇÖs explosives can help clear large groups of enemies, while the Arms DealerÔÇÖs ammunition can keep your ranged weapons stocked.

In conclusion, optimizing NPC pairings for early-game event preparation involves understanding NPC happiness, building suitable housing, and focusing on NPCs who provide essential items or services. By carefully planning your town layout and pairing NPCs who like each other, you can save resources and make event preparation more manageable. Avoid common mistakes like placing NPCs in disliked biomes or overcrowding, and use advanced techniques like biome-specific housing clusters to further optimize your setup. With the right preparation, youÔÇÖll be ready to tackle any early-game event in Terraria.