Cloak of shadows

[Krinthalis]

So I decided to take my sorcerer out hunting and after a few minutes, this is what happens:

A tree spirit tries to ensnare you!
AS: +180 vs DS: +160 with AvD: +31 + d100 roll: +98 = +149
... and hits for 11 points of damage!
Arm lock.
You are stunned for 1 rounds!
You sense that the shadows swirling around you refuse to come to your aid.
The shadowy tendrils begin to swirl faster and faster until they are just a blurred haze of fast moving darkness.
... 35 points of damage!
Right leg ripped from socket at the knee!
You fall screaming to the ground grasping your mangled right leg!
... 65 points of damage!
Your neck has been removed!
Your head quickly falls to the ground.

So, my first thought is, WTF?

But my second, more constructive, thought is, is there anything I can do to prevent this?

My Sorcerer is 25 and fully 1x'd in Demon lore. Does it get better with more demon lore? If I just don't chant anything into my cloak, will it not backfire? On that note, is there any way to unchant a retribution? Given that I really don't care about a one round ensnare stun, I'd rather just not have it respond at all if its going to pwn me so hard when it fails.

[Artha]

Did you have fog (whatever that spell is) chanted? I think that's the only time that happens, but I don't remember the precise mechanics and I'm sure someone more knowledgable will come in and save the day shortly.

[Shalla]

Chant Remove - To dispel your retribution.

That backlash effect will happen if;

1.) You have chanted 130.

2.) You don't have enough mana to energize the spell used for retribution.

3.) Not having enough lores.

Being singled in demonology at 25 does not mean it will come to your aid anytime you need it. In the end, you only have 25 ranks of lores, when you need at least 50. The higher the spell, the more the demon will resist you. I suggest at that level to use a defensive spell for retribution. Like 106/Spirit Fog. If you must use an attack spell, use 706/Mind Jolt, 703/Corrupt Essence, 412/Weapon Deflection or 110/Unbalance, but your minor spiritual CS would probably low at that point.

Tree spirits cannot be stunned by the way, at least not to my recollection. I suggest using 703/Corrupt Essence. That is what I used to stop it from boiling me. 703 to stop it from boiling or casting at you or 106 to increase your defensive strength and at the same time lower the critter's AS.

[Fallen]

You will want 50 Demonology ranks to reduce the chances of a cloak backlash down to as low as they will go.

[Krinthalis]

Wow, I didn't realize I needed so much. For the record I had 702 in my cloak.

Thanks for the advice.

[Necromancer]

Not having enough mana won't cause that problem. The cloak just won't fire.

It was just a major failure. Every time the cloak has a chance to activate, an immediate check is done to see if it will (45% plus 1% per demonology rank). If you fail that check, another check is done to see if it's a major failure and the cloak decides to hurt you instead.

That kind of failure is very rare, don't stress over it.

[Krinthalis]

Not having enough mana won't cause that problem. The cloak just won't fire.

It was just a major failure. Every time the cloak has a chance to activate, an immediate check is done to see if it will (45% plus 1% per demonology rank). If you fail that check, another check is done to see if it's a major failure and the cloak decides to hurt you instead.

That kind of failure is very rare, don't stress over it.

Good to know! Thanks! Do you know anything about the major failure chances (like what plays into it, or even better, a formula like that above)?

[Necromancer]

so far as anyone knows, the major failure is just a set percentage. In fact, it's quite possible that it's a fumble (that there is only one roll, and that a 1% yields this backlash). In which case, my statement about there being two rolls isn't entirely accurate (though effectively it's the same thing- just with higher chances).

Demonology lore is the only thing that plays into the retribution strike (including backlash failure) of 712. No matter what, you cannot completely train away that backlash. There will always be a 5% chance of failure with the spell, and some percentage of those failures will always yield a backlash. But, rest assured, this backlash happens VERY infrequently. The reason why I assume it is not merely a 1/100 chance is that I have seen it so few times in Querthose's life, and he hasn't had more than 40 demonology ranks in quite some time.