NPC Helper 2 lets Stardew Valley players and mod authors add custom NPCs using readable TOML files. A content pack can define a character's identity, home, birthday, personality, dialogue, gifts, daily routine, artwork, marriage content, and translations without requiring C#.
“HP” stands for “Helper.” NPC Helper 2 is just the beginning of the HP series—maybe House Helper will be next, lol.
The guide focuses on what you can install, create, and configure. It describes the supported player and mod-author workflows, not the software's private implementation.
What you can make#
- A standard NPC content pack made from files.
- Characters with dialogue, gift tastes, schedules, seasonal or location-based artwork, and optional marriage content.
- Translations that override selected text and data for another game language.
- C# integrations using the public SDK or the runtime mod API.
Before you begin#
NPC Helper 2 requires Stardew Valley 1.6 or later and SMAPI 4.0 or later. Each NPC content pack requires NPC Helper 2 to be installed; the NPC pack does not include the runtime mod.
Download NPC Helper 2 from Nexus Mods. See Getting Started to install it and make a first pack.
Guide#
- Getting Started — prerequisites, installation, and a minimal character.
- Content Pack Structure — required files, folder names, and discovery rules.
- NPC Definition — identity, personality, home, romance, options, and gifts.
- Dialogue & Schedules — Stardew dialogue keys and daily routines.
- Sprites & Portraits — image dimensions, variants, and fallback behavior.
- Marriage — engagement, spouse dialogue, spouse schedules, and vows.
- Localization — language-specific overrides.
- Tools & API — optional CLI, C# SDK, and mod integrations.
- Troubleshooting — common installation and content issues.
External references#
- SMAPI — the mod loader required by NPC Helper 2.
- Stardew Valley dialogue format — dialogue keys and special text syntax.
- Stardew Valley item IDs — item identifiers used by gift tastes.