I think part of the original point was lost, its not a matter of which is the best tactic but the fact that a hero can move further with stamina then with normal movement. The ring of power gives +1 sta so if they need to carry or escort something off the board then they can move beyond the OL mobs easily and there are only so many pit traps in the deck. Mind you they get to roll awareness to be affected by it.
I just completed the interlude as the OL and had the rogue with 6 sta (5 plus ring of power), he also had two stamina potions on the character. So did the following:
1. spend an action to swim over from the river bank to the stream, use stamina to move to edge of waterfall (cost of 6 fatigue) as there was a mob on each side of the stream (yes I should have had on in it but they didnt have the move to get there), no action required to swill a sta pot and thus gets all sta back
2. uses second action to leap over waterfall taking 3 damage, spends 6 fatigue to move out of waterfall towards exit, swill 2nd sta pot (remember it does not state on the stat pot card that it takes an action) and then burns sta to exit off the board with casket to win the day.
On movement points would not have gotten close, so in total burnt 17 stat.
The first edition states only one pot per turn, is there anything in the 2nd edition that states that?
Regards
Tusslefoot