If unreliable magic scares someone off then they should not play D:OS as the test players often enough demonstrated by setting themselves or Swen on fire with their fireballs.
From the reactions from viewers and seeing what Larian created in the past I think they just not mind fumbles but find them more appealing like slick spells which work 100%.
OF course not all idea work for D:OS but which would be nice to be available in the editor for making own stuff.
If such brainstorming ideas don't come up early enough they will come too late for the editor.
Besides...I just see the ideas as inspirations for variations, not to make draconic laws out of them.
If items would be mandatory, if fireballs would turn into nukes under the own behind then of course people would be disgruntled. But life is not perfect, it's the imperfections which make it more appealing then looking for perfection.
It's not just the monsters which can be hazardous but bad luck or worse: ourselves as we are all our worst own enemies
A general note:
Please people, don't get scared by terms like 'champion' or 'misfire'. Most of the ideas can be easily implemented into a game as it does all the number crunching. Like I said, I hope that Larian might consider the one or other idea in future fantasy games as not EVERY idea in a brainstorming process can and should be implemented. Right now, anything goes
I saw too many games which were actually a bit too smooth in execution, embrace life with its imperfection
