There are some interesting things in volume 6, including the names of the 3 dwarves who accompanied Bilbo on his trip that began on his 111th birthday (the beginning of the time covered by this game, right?).

In The Lord of the Rings, those three dwarves are unnamed. However, in History of Middle Earth (volume 6), they were named Nar, Anar, and Hannar.

I'd love to have card versions of these guys. Perhaps a couple of them could be heroes, and one a rather hefty ally, so that we can recreate Bilbo's trek from Bag End to Rivendell (perhaps by a way-out-of-the-way route through Dale and Erebor?).

If FFG doesn't have the rights and can't make them, perhaps I'll just create a few custom cards for them for me to use when my son and I play.

No one has the rights to those works. The Tolkien Estate hasn't sold them and will not sell them. The only thing people can gain the rights to are The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

@Bryon

The previous poster is correct. But I think your idea is really worth some merit. You will have to be careful not to unbalance the characters but if people can make custom scenarios, THAT ROCK, I don't see why you can do similar.