For those of you who've arrived hoping for the latest tips for growing good gear, I'm sorry to disappoint you but this post is about growing pipe-weed in the new Lord of the Rings Online game. It's a tale of illicit riches, scientific progress and discovery, hopes dashed and even a change in the laws of physics themselves! Well, biology, but somehow changing the laws of physics sounds more impressive (if no more epic as far as life on this planet goes...).

As always, please don't turn away just because I mentioned a computer game: the article is intended for a general audience, and will keep geekery down to a quaint and endearing level*. Besides, you made it this far...

* I wish.

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