something i dont understand something about LOTR...

**Toho** · February 13, 2011, 04:26 PM

why did everyone want the ring? it was useless except going invisible and it was no good at peeping either(can you imagine watching naked girls in a misty black and white setting with an evil fireball behind you? mood killer if you ask me)

so why did people want the ring and why did they keep saying "use it" what use can it possibly be?

**Hero of the West** · February 13, 2011, 04:40 PM

It was addictive like drugs as a matter of speak.. to keep it simple.. it gives authority, strengthens magical abilities.. aging

**Bregil** · February 13, 2011, 05:00 PM

Basically, it contained a large portion of Sauron's power. For those who didn't know how to use it, it merely made them invisible. For someone like Saruman, Gandalf, or Galadriel, the ring would have amplified their power and made them much more powerful (though as Gandalf and Galadriel recognized, it would always twist and corrupt the user's actions toward evil.) As HotW said, it was addictive to it's bearers. This is why Gollum hunted so long for it after he lost it.

**Flaviafelix** · February 13, 2011, 05:03 PM

It has different effects depending on what kind of power is present. In a hobbit it may just grant life and invisibility, but for a powerful being like a wizard or one of the greatest elves, it would have an amplifying effect that would probably make the user almost as powerful as Sauron was when he had the ring. This power was seductive and also an enticing strategy for the denethor wh o was fighting a long defeat and he knew it.

**jinjo** · February 14, 2011, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by Flaviafelix

It has different effects depending on what kind of power is present. In a hobbit it may just grant life and invisibility, but for a powerful being like a wizard or one of the greatest elves, it would have an amplifying effect that would probably make the user almost as powerful as Sauron was when he had the ring. This power was seductive and also an enticing strategy for the denethor wh o was fighting a long defeat and he knew it.

agreed

**Lordinquisitor** · February 14, 2011, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Flaviafelix

It has different effects depending on what kind of power is present. In a hobbit it may just grant life and invisibility, but for a powerful being like a wizard or one of the greatest elves, it would have an amplifying effect that would probably make the user almost as powerful as Sauron was when he had the ring. This power was seductive and also an enticing strategy for the denethor wh o was fighting a long defeat and he knew it.

I just deem it important to point out that the ring didn`t grant life. It merely stretched and extended the lifespan of his mortal wearers.

As already said the ring grants additional power depending on the power of the wielder.

Personally i`d like to think that the powers granted are also somewhat linked to the desire of the user. The Hobbits, for example, turn invisible while wearing the ring because they want to stay hidden. If needed the ring can also be used to make one look fearsome and terrible. That`s also my explanation why the ring did have no effect on Tom Bombadill- He didn`t desire anything. He was content in his own small world.

**dannyalex** · February 14, 2011, 06:08 AM

and what about if the ring went to Aragorn..?

**Minas Moth** · February 14, 2011, 06:24 AM

I agree that it was something of a drug... by controling the one ring one could control 9 and 7 rings, and in effect control each of the leaders and therfore races that they were given to... and that was terifiying thought... lucky that rings didn't have desired effect on the dwarves and that those three given to the elves were hidden. if it all went like sauron planned whole of the ME would fall into his grasp without a single battle fought...

i don't agree that everyone wanted the ring... only sauron and saruman wanted it for it's original purpose, to dominate all life, while boromir wanted it only to defend his people, gandal and aragorn didn't want it at all for they knew what it its capable of...

**Shocked** · February 14, 2011, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by dannyalex

and what about if the ring went to Aragorn..?

He is just a man, although he is very distantly related to a maia

**Minas Moth** · February 14, 2011, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by Shocked

He is just a man, although he is very distantly related to a maia

and to the noldor houses of the first age... Finwe's house to be precise... therfore he had wisdom and strenght not to desire it or use it... he was weak...hehehe

**Haerski** · February 14, 2011, 07:16 AM

The real reason why the Ring has different effect in possession of different beings is because during the writing of The Hobbit, Tolkien never thought the Ring would became anything more than simple magic talisman which grants it's user invisibility. In fact in early version of the story, Gollum gave the ring willingly for Bilbo as prize of winning riddle competition. That of course contradicts with LOTR, where the Ring is not so easily parted with, so Tolkein fixed the Hobbit afterwards and explained the slight difference in epilogue of the new version. So basically it was just lucky mistake, which later turned out to allow much more depth to actual Ring mythology, LOTR.

**Gallus** · February 14, 2011, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by dannyalex

and what about if the ring went to Aragorn..?

He would just become invisble, like Isildur.

**dannyalex** · February 14, 2011, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by Gallus

He would just become invisble, like Isildur.

think not,the characters is opposite ,diferrent characters,Aragorn has more wisdom than Isilidur thats for sure,and more patience

and maybe for those characteristics The Ring would have some other ability on Aragorn,agree with invisibility btw

**mattgoby** · February 14, 2011, 09:45 AM

and what about if the ring went to Aragorn..?

I believe that, sauron was terrified of this as aragorn would have become immensly powerful.

**Mongolhorde** · February 14, 2011, 11:47 AM

Now that you mention it, who and what is Tom Bombadil?

**Gallus** · February 14, 2011, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Mongolhorde

Now that you mention it, who and what is Tom Bombadil?

nobody knows exept for professor Tolkien

**Erunion Telcontar** · February 14, 2011, 01:04 PM

On the Ring, it had many, many different powers. Do you guys remember book 4 (Second half of the Two Towers)? Frodo tells Gollum that if Gollum won't do what Frodo wishes, Frodo will put on the ring and command Gollum, who would be forced to do Frodo's bidding. Personally, I don't think Frodo was bluffing. When Sam puts on the ring later, his hearing is greatly enhanced and he is able to understand Orcish and it says, (paraphrase) "The ring did not grant him mastery of tongues, rather it gave him understanding of the creatures of the Dark Lord".
The Ring, as far as I have been able to understand, grants you dominion over other ring-bearers, understanding (and possibly dominion over) Sauron's minions, the ability to enter the wraith-twilight-shadow world (can't remember the term Tolkien uses, last few chapters of Book 1). The Ring's power also scale's with your power.
A Maiar like Gandalf or Saruman would have had incredible innate power as well as the ability to control all of Sauron's forces and likely control the Nine. Aragorn would likely have had increased power (he was strong enough to wrest the Palantir away from Sauron's control), mastery over some of Sauron's minions and whatnot.

The biggest draw of the Ring, however, was itself. The Ring wanted you to wear it, and it gave you reasons to want it.

**Minas Moth** · February 14, 2011, 01:17 PM

yeah, in the movie frodo said that ring will hold him for his word(golum's word)... i'm not sure that this exsists in the book... i also agree that ring gave considerable power over all evil creatures, not just saurons minions, or to put it better it had some influence and lured them... it would be interesting wha twould happen if balrog took the ring from mrodo in moria? he would maybe overthrow sauron?

btw, to me it is interesting it's effect on golum also. although it corrupted him, it didn't make him completley evil. maybe that is because golum wanted the ring for itself(here i mean the beauty and importance it had to golum) and not to rule other creatures...

tom bombadil just was, as the book says he was the first and he will be the last... i hope this helps