how do the alternate ring bearers work?

[St. Grimmin]

I have never played anything past RotK and was just wondering how the starting fellowship worked when you used an alternate ringbearer?

[Thranduil]

Alternate Ring-bearers (ARBs) can be played in one of 2 ways:

1) As a normal companion in which case they are unbound (unless the card specifically says Ring-bound) with their own twilight cost etc.

2) As the Ring-bearer in which case they have the keywords "Ring-bound" and "Ring-bearer" and cost , just like Ring-bearer Frodos.

Thranduil

[Elrohir]

Alternate Ringbearer do not need to pay twilight cost, if they are ring-bearer. So you can start with Galadriel, Bearer of Wisdom Legolas, WE (2) and Arwen, SD (2).

Dwarves have a nice possiblity with their Ringbearer Gimli, Bearer of grudges. You can play Dain Ironfoot (3) and Durin III in your starting fellowship.

You can still play alternate Ring-bearers as non-ringbearer. Like Frodo + Boromir, Bearer of council (3).

[St. Grimmin]

cool sounds fun. thanks. 

[Knight-Who-Says-Nee]

One other minor thing to keep in mind,
One rule that came shortly after alternative ring-bearers is that any skirmishes against the ring-bearer can not be canceled.