I get this a lot:

1. Fail the opening synth, increase odds when adding in a support ability that's supposed to improve odds (my success percent is so high, it circled around to the negative!)

2. I'm fine on a couple starting synths without additional ability support, then hit an ability and proceed to fail every next attempted synth.

3. White orbs crit fail and then the element goes unstable. Bonus points if it happens in the first 2 attempts.

And yes to fixing leves with a subcraft requirement. People shouldn't be forced into a subcraft for leves that focus and rewards only on the main craft they want to level.