Problem statement: If sufficient risks are not taken, it meant pcs were able to stack up potions, creating a very hard to balance system for DMs.
Current solution: Limiting the number of potions etc you carry, and crippling you if you go over them.
Issue: Immediately optimises for certain builds and classes. A fighter/rogue is immediately better off, as they can use wands and scrolls, and given average level is 7, ab is not much different. Wizards are also pretty great in this system. Any dex based classes are immediately penalised, as they have to trade off mage armour + cats grace vs bulls str for same result.
Suggested solutions:
1) Remove bag limit but have potions leak out randomly over resets, forcing you to use or lose.
2) Create tier 1 and tier 2 potion system - tier 1 are the obvious like bulls str, endurance, etc and are limited, tier 2 are eagles splender, mage armour etc, and are limitless
I kind of like the idea of potions being "use it or lose it" over time, but maybe instead of losing them outright, some or them become dissipating?
I would just give people who can't use wands or scrolls a higher potion limit, seems a lot easier and simpler to offset not being able to use scrolls and wands slightly.
As a side note I feel like some potions shouldn't count that are way too niche. Remove fear potions, discipline, the various unique power potions etc.
A two tier potion system might be a nice solution to some of the issues though.
Please double or 150% the limit for pure Martials (Barb/Fighter/Swash/Monk) so I don't suffer FOMO from not splashing 1 Wizard or Bard to get my free 4 Shield AC every encounter.
It'd be fine if it cost gold.
I like the idea of pure fighter / barbarian / ranger / monk getting an increase in potions over the other thoughts here. If the current system makes that difficult, maybe one further alternative to adjusting or increasing might be to give said pure classes like a 15% chance to keep any vial they drink. (Roll the dice, get last vial, add to inventory if successful or whatever) .
With that said, it does feel like these classes are already doing really well with the established limit, and I think there are IC ways to increase it in or planned, so it might also just be best that we're patient.