Hello friends,
I also have an idea for old Bilbo. After reading the discussion here about whether or not Bilbo should be freely movable and whether he should be fighting or buffing the economy or buildings or heroes I thought about what Bilbo is actually doing in the books in Rivendell. And overall I would say he rests.
So why not link Bilbo to the resting place? The resting place is in my opinion this leisurely place in Imladris where Bilbo would probably spend some time reading, singing and writing. And since he is a guest in a place full of marvelous noldorians he would (with all respect) more hinder than help in any other of Imladris´s buildings. And the resting place would be the perfect spot to use some of the awesome abilities centered around hospitallity and arts you guys proposed.
The resting place opens a whole book of possibilites. It could just be the place from which Bilbo for example buffs the hobbit farms but with Edain 4.5 and the coming siege changes Bilbo could "cast" powerfully buffs to the resting place, which for example drastically improve the leadership and health regeneration for a short period of time to fend off attackers, but after the spell faded the resting place doesn´t give any bonuses for a while.
My proposal for Bilbo:
*Make him recruitable in the resting place. When he is recruited he is placed in the resting place like the Twins were placed in the Eregion forge in 3.81. If you order him out of the resting place or it is destroyed he can´t use his abilities (he also can´t fight at all) and you can move him slowly around (I like the idea of using Gandalf the darks animation) or into another resting place.
*When recuited he is level 10 and gets all his abilities, so he should cost a considerable amount of ressources (like 1000 res or smth)
*1.
Bilbos presence.
Passive. Bilbos joyful and pleasant nature makes the resting place a far more comfortable place. - Boosts the leadership from +20% armor and attack to +25%. Adds -10% hero recruitment reducting cost (So that you only need 3 resting places for the full bonus) And maybe boost the healing rate a liddle.
*2.
Legendary Stories and fairy tales. -
Passive: After a long day of work the hobbit farmers eagerly anticipate Bilbos stories. - +5% res production on hobbit farms
-
When activated on a single farm: In times of need the hobbits still remember Bilbos stories of adventure and they awake the Tuc-blood in some of them. - The amount of hobbits defending the farm doubles. They get +25% armor and +50% attack for a short period of time (for example 25 seconds). But the farm won´t produce resources double the time of the spells duration (so for example 50 seconds). - (This spell should give you the abilitiy to fend off a small harrassments by weaker units and damage a stronger one at the cost of resources)
*3.
Deep conversation. In a deep conversation about past adventures and poetry Bilbo lifts the burdens of responsibility and sorrows in his counterpart. His counterpart receives a clear mind and can now fight stronger than ever. - Sends friendly hero into the resting place to join Bilbo for a minute. (The hero is now in the resting place and off the battlefield) After this time the hero returns with improved combat stats which last for example 3 minutes. Like for example 15% more damage and armor, but I am not an balance expert
(Easter egg: When you send Ring hero Elrond in there is a 5% chance that Bilbo snatches the Ring and becomes evil Bilbo
)
*4.
Elbereth song Edit: Should be Earendil poem (thx @NetoD20 for inspiration) - Bilbos recite his poem of praise for Earendil in times of need. It touches the hearts of the elven soldiers and motivates them to accomplish great tasks. - Friendly soldiers in the fortress gain a drastically better version of the resting place bonus for a short time (like 50% armor and attack) and in combat healing. After that Bilbo is exhausted and his resting place gives no bonuses for some time at all. This ability has of course a long cooldown.
*5.
Going on an last adventure Bilbo leaves the resting place
-Note that english isn´t my mothers tonque so if you like my Bilbo proposal feel free to give my abilities badass names.
Hoped you liked my version of old Bilbo or that I at least inspired you a little bit.
Grettings
Bilbo Bakings