Let's see where this goes...
I think that you should have to have a free hand to use any type of potion in the game. The main problem I have with using a 2-hander is that it gives warriors the ability to use weapons with special hits and adds a DPS that warriors don't normally get. This goes against the spirit of UO where everything combat related is associated with a skill. Throwing purples requires no skill (not player skill, actual uo skill points) unless you want an added bonus by having Alchemy (which should be removed too).
If you want warriors to have better damage output I would suggest increasing weapon damage, decreasing armor values or add hit-spell modifiers to weapons (oh yeah).
You might think that it is balanced currently because mages can use their stun-punch ability while throwing purples but that is apples to oranges. Mages don't punch for e-bolt damage while throwing purples. The way to fight melee is to get separation so you can land your own attacks, and purples take the separation out of the fight.
People are still going to throw purples with a poisoned 1-hander but at the trade-off of having a lower DPS weapon out that can't para-blow you.
So, what does everyone else think?
I think that you should have to have a free hand to use any type of potion in the game. The main problem I have with using a 2-hander is that it gives warriors the ability to use weapons with special hits and adds a DPS that warriors don't normally get. This goes against the spirit of UO where everything combat related is associated with a skill. Throwing purples requires no skill (not player skill, actual uo skill points) unless you want an added bonus by having Alchemy (which should be removed too).
If you want warriors to have better damage output I would suggest increasing weapon damage, decreasing armor values or add hit-spell modifiers to weapons (oh yeah).
You might think that it is balanced currently because mages can use their stun-punch ability while throwing purples but that is apples to oranges. Mages don't punch for e-bolt damage while throwing purples. The way to fight melee is to get separation so you can land your own attacks, and purples take the separation out of the fight.
People are still going to throw purples with a poisoned 1-hander but at the trade-off of having a lower DPS weapon out that can't para-blow you.
So, what does everyone else think?