Tell me about your ballast resistor failure.

Guys: I'm interested in learning how many of you have had a ballast resistor failure in your ride. What happened when it failed? Did everything die, or just the ignition system? How long did your ballast last before it failed. How did you know it failed? Any and all inputs welcomed. Thanks!
Once. First car, about 1981. '71 Charger. Typical symptoms, crank/start but no run.