LOTRO Opens Update 49.6 Test Build With Neighbours Housing Preview

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The Lord of the Rings Online has opened Bullroarer for a short Update 49.6 test focused on two player-facing additions: the first preview of the Neighbours housing system and UI scaling support for Lua plugins.

The test server is scheduled to run Friday, September 11 from about 6:30 AM EDT to 5:00 PM EDT. Character copy is available through the Transfer button on the Bullroarer launcher, though the player database was wiped on August 31, 2026.

Neighbours are now available to try in neighbourhoods, though the system is still unfinished. Players can buy summoning objects from Trotter in the E&G Tavern, place them at a traditional or premium home they own, then summon one of four neighbours: Brútha, Emmathron, Golwen, or Haldo.

  • Speaking with a neighbour opens the gift-giving UI.
  • Community Boards in settlements offer details on Neighbour Quests and Missions.
  • Players can choose up to four rotating daily quests.
  • Quest rewards include journals and currency.
  • Currency can be spent on gifts from a vendor outside Bree Town Hall.
  • Brútha and Emmathron currently have personal quests tied to relationship progress.

Neighbour gifts are also being added to several reward paths. Chests with loot level 14 or higher can drop rare, incomparable, and legendary gifts, weekly mission quests can offer a Neighbour Gift Box, and Delving barter rewards now include boxes for 1,000 Delving Writs. Delving rewards have a small chance to drop the same type of box, and Burglars may find gift boxes through pickpocketing.

The patch also adds UI scaling support for Lua plugins. Plugins won’t scale automatically, so players need to turn on the “Use Global Scaling” checkbox in the Plugin Manager.

For the Neighbours test, mood affects how often gifts can be claimed. Neutral neighbours give gifts every five days, sad neighbours every seven days, content neighbours every four days, and happy neighbours every three days. The notes also say gift drop chances from burgling and landscape chests have been increased, and rare, incomparable, and legendary neighbour rewards are no longer bound.

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Further reading: Official LOTRO Bullroarer Update 49.6