At the point now where I am feeling sorry for people. For the Non Casters that is. There are a multitude of people that have put tons of RP into Herb anything, that are not Magical Powerhouse PC's (And yes there are some casters that have done this as well).
Still. Watching a good Herbalist/Chirurgeon/Midwife/evil cackling Macbeth Cauldron Owner, get trampled in the race by the uber buffed, is kind of sad.
I would suggest, figuring out a way to tie in the Character sheet crafting skills, to help balance this out. Also, with no resale mark up, all herbs appraise at the same, and it is causing issue's, and that's before you get into the clique handouts as mentioned by others in other threads.
Right now the Buff Meisters can get to the spawns faster, craft it faster, raise in CXP faster, dedicate a fraction of the time to reap 100 times the reward, and that's a very imbalancing thing in the long run where we have already had issue with people carrying a million gallons of liquid, and lag storming any event while they start chugging a small apothacary before they take the first swing.
I say, set the system (the entire crafting system) up to Ignore Buffs. This brings the entire crafting system onto a field of skill rather then How many numbers can I pile on my stat. Tie in the Character sheet skills (many a server modifies those I'm sure the folks here can to), so that folks can spend skill points on them as well (and perhaps add some new backgrounds to reflect this giving another bonus). Doing so would level the playing field, the Buff meisters still have an advantage in collecting, but now those with skill points can compete, without having to worry about 9 zillion spells going off around them the stigmata (for the most part) of witchery and well, my personal favorite, the BERSERK rage using weapons crafter working with Molten metal.
I would also make these Potions Fragile, in the form of Not being able to stack them. More use for custom containers. In addtiions, one could add a variety of tools, to also help out. Master Crafted smelting tongs etc etc etc, for a bonus that makes more in game sense then RRRRRRAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! *Slam Slam Slam Slam*
Casters got the best of the playing field anyway let's give the skill guy something for once.
~Rex