What would have happen if Faramir was sent instead of Boromir to Rivendell to attend the council of Elrond and became a member of the fellowship? Would the fellowship have stayed together as Faramir does not have Boromirs weakness when it comes to the ring.
It IS a much different book that way. I guess the major chance would start with a council of the Fellowship at the Falls of Rauros. But ultimately I the it ends with the over throw of Gondor.
Saruman invades and takes over Rohan, Aragorn doesn't travel the 'Path of the Dead' and Gondor stands alone.
There's one other battle where Sauron beats the tar out of Saruman and makes him his house cat.
Then mybe the Valar step in again to spank Sauron, Hopefully before Sauron wipes the Elves and the Hobbits out.
Nobody can really tell what would have happened. I can see Faramir as more resistant to the power of the Ring along the journey and so the whole Fellowship may have well made it with his help through Ithilien which he well knew all the way to thhe boarders of Mordor. What would happen from then on is unknown, but it may well be that the whole story would have been over a lot faster, without Gollum, Saruman, the Rohirrim and Gondor playing a big role at all.