agreed, people are too dependent upon buffs as it is. A mild hit to constitution isn't enough. Bring it back to where it ages your character by a year
Just joking.
No though, one of the main reasons melee is so dominant in the game is because of bash + the buffs. The enhanced damage they're capable of putting out with max buffs and an enchanted weapon is nuts.
Personally, I think buffs shouldn't put a character past their maximum stat allowance. What I mean is, if a human has a max of 23 points in strength, Giant strength shouldn't buff it to 25 . With max Gstr and Haste, you end up with a human merc that has the strength of a giant (25) and the dexterity of a sprite (25) which makes for some really, really wacked damage output. It also makes it less desirable to play giants and such because Humans are just predominantly better? Honestly, why play a giant barb when a Human barb has max dex AND strength. Not to mention, have a sorc use enlarge and viola, giant human running amok.
If it DOES push it past the max, I say maybe 1 point at the most. Or if it's going to max it out like it does, it needs an equally detrimental side affect to it. As it is now, a slight hit to con is a joke. How about making it half a person's con? Or temporarily taking them down to 5 con for a while. Or instead make it directly affect their HP pool and have the fatigue hit them where it really hurts. Cut their maximum HP in half or so.
Edit: I'd post a longer response, but I'd get a week-long ban for avoiding the forum censors with my swearing.