[Farael]

Originally Posted by Sardy

I am curious to consider what lengths Frodo and Bilbo might have gone (had they not been such good-hearted heroes) if they had chosen the path of the Ring...

Truth is, if Frodo had tried to use the Ring, the minions of Sauron would have been alerted and he would have been overcome before you can say "was that black rider a Nazghul?"

Assuming that this for some strange reason does not happen, they would have still not become great and powerful rulers of vast armies. It is said once and again that the Ring gave its wearer power according to their stature. We already have an example of a hobbit-like individual trying to actively use the Ring for his own purpose... and I don't see Gollum leading any armies.

You could still argue that Gollum did not TRY to get any armies, thus he got none.... but who could have either of the two Hobbits commanded?

I'd say that (at least in the beginning) they would have only been able to command their equals or inferiors... which means other hobbits and perhaps men from Bree and the like. I highly doubt that they would have had much of an edge against say... a Dunedain like Aragorn.

I also doubt that they would have been able to rule over orcs and trolls and Nazghul. We see that both Sauron and Morgoth, beings of infinitely more inherent 'power' than a hobbit are diminished by their efforts of ruling other species. They become weaker and "more bound to the (Middle-)Earth". How much of this "power" did a hobbit have to spend? I don't know for sure, but I'd guess slim to none.

And I believe that this is where the "The Ring gives it's wearer power according to their stature" statement kicks in. The Ring would not give them "extra" power (not much, anyway). Instead, it would amplify their existing power. For inherently powerful beings such as Sauron or Gandalf, this would certainly be a huge different. For beings that did not have this, it would still make them greater but to a point.

I have to go now, or else I'll be late for lecture, but to wrap up my post, if either Hobbit would have used The Ring, odds are that one of Sauron's slaves would have taken it from him. Even if that had not happened at first, neither of the two hobbits would have been able to become a great and powerful warlord, strong enough to defeat Sauron when he comes (along with a few armies of orcs and other nasties) to claim what he wants.