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BTW, did we ever determine what the mechanical effect of backlash *is*? I seem to recall that straight Con damage seemed unsatisfactory for some reason. Maybe we were wondering what undead sorcerers would use in its place.
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I'm more-or-less happy with straight Con damage - it's simple, and it directly reflects a hit to vitality. It impacts Fortitude saves and Concentration checks, as well. Truth be told, I think I'd like it even more if backlash extended to Strength and Dexterity as well - all 3 physical stats to be debilitated. But I suspect this might be a little too much. I don't like the idea of the caster 'apportioning' the backlash to a specific score, though. It's too convenient, and backlash should be anything but.
I hadn't really considered undead casters. Maybe they (and other creatures with no Con score) should treat Backlash as a positive energy effect which does 1d6 damage per point: undead have lousy hit points, anyway. Maybe they can choose a mental stat to apply it to. Maybe they can't use it at all; they don't have a 'lifeforce' to draw upon.
Or maybe they can apply it freely (to the limit of their caster level) - it would make epic vampire-sorcerers, liches and demiliches
very interesting. They'd effectively have up to 30 points of free factors to add to every spell at 30th level - specifically to things that [blast] and [destroy], where backlash is preferred. Very destructive, in combination with certain feats. I can't say that I'm entirely averse to this idea.