LoTR Geek Question

[mouse7]

Someone here must know the answer to this. One of those stupid book/movie point that's been driving me nuts for years...

The One Ring was forged to rule over the rings of power.

The Nazgul were wearing the rings of power.

When Frodo put on the One Ring, why couldn't Frodo order the Nazgul around? How come the Nazgul could hurt him while wearing the One Ring?

[LuminousX]

1. The One Ring is the Soul of Sauron

Only Sauron could control the other rings. That is the allure of the ring, though, is the thought that one could control the others. But the will of Sauron as created by the dark god Morgoth is far too strong. No one, not even the kind and benevolent Frodo could resist the corruption of the ring.

[DS1]

3. So ~that's~ what was in the case!

:evilgrin:

[wickerwoman]

2. "You cannot wield it. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone."

Do I win the geek prize?

[truthspeaker]

6. that's correct for the movie, but not for the book

Frodo didn't have the "strength of will" to weild the Ring in such a way. Powerful magic items usually require a minimum ability score of some sort, in RPG terms. That's why destroying the Ring was Frodo's task. Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, or even Aragorn or Denethor probably could have learned to use the Ring's power before Sauron found them, and would have found it too tempting to resist.

This change in the Ring's nature, by the way, is my only serious complaint about the movies.

[mouse7]

4. No prize. Just need to finally know the answer.

You win the prize of knowledge.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. I seem to remember Gandalf saying that Frodo would require years

of practice to be able to do anything with the ring.