I just took a new RHTS fighter through the Wine Cellar on the Testlive server. It was using flawless epic warchief gear without bulked plating, and an Argossian 2h sword. I speed pulled it into every pack and never let it take a healing break. I didnt use any healing arrows and the only food it had was gruel. It had the following stats, which lets be real are not very good.
I could have used Warlord armour to give it more HP and make it survive better, I could have given it better food or healing arrows but he still survived like a champ. The boss fights are slightly longer, but it is by no means any harder. I actually felt more compelled to get in there and crack skulls with him.
Even in Argossian Mariner gear (the light armour) I only used 30 haunch and tea. It’s just not as bad as people are saying it is.