Overview
Create valid homes and a useful fast-travel network.
How it works
NPCs have individual arrival rules, while housing and happiness affect settlement planning. Pylons speed travel but depend on town and biome conditions.
How to use it
Spread settlements across important biomes and keep each one protected from enemy access.
Mistakes to avoid
Do not put every NPC in a single cramped room and expect the best pylon prices.
NPC Housing and Pylons: detailed guide
Build a real valid room
Check walls, enclosed perimeter, background wall placement, safe light, comfort furniture and entrance. Use the in-game housing query rather than relying on a memorized minimum size that might be wrong for your layout. Keep spare houses for new arrivals.
Recruit useful NPCs
Merchant and Nurse improve survival. Defeating the Goblin Army enables the Goblin Tinkerer rescue, which unlocks reforging and accessory combinations. Later merchants require boss milestones, specific items or special biome conditions. Plan a safe rescue route for bound NPCs.
Avoid common town failures
A shared base can be convenient but vulnerable to invasions and Hardmode spreading evil. Add escape corridors, strong walls and light. Treat useful towns as infrastructure rather than scenery and revisit them after world changes.