I always used to tell students that their engine was going to fail on THIS departure. I used to get a plan of action from them with various step heights/gates e.g. "If I am sufficiently low and their is sufficient runway ahead then I will land ahead, if I am too high to land back onto this runway then I will take the grass to the right, above that I will take the large field to the north of the field and land downwind (there were not many good land ahead options) etc"
I had my first power loss at about 200' on climbout on an early solo flight as a student (at the time I thought it was a total power loss). It is amazing how quickly you can think in circumstances like this. After nailing the speed I elected to try to turn through 270 degrees and land on a disused runway (triangular runway layout). I knew I would have insufficient height to do more than 180 degrees of the turn, but hoped I would have rudder authority to kick enough of the rest off in the flare, to touch down closely enough aligned to keep the thing on the hard stuff. My only options ahead were green, made of wood and rose to 30' or so. During the turn I had carb heat on, mags checked, prayers said. Engine recovered (I now suspect it was carb ice). Went on to fly a normal cct keeping VERY close to the runway. Taxied back and the instructor declined my invitation to retire to the bar, insted sending me straight back out for more ccts. Best thing he could have done.
Now when I fly GA, it is mostly a 182 from an airfield with a single 1600m runway and huge 1600m triangular field next to it, as well as a taxiway with two 800m straight segments. EFAT from here and I will certainly turn. Land ahead involves some cranes from RW 14 and some industrial units from RW32. Before each flight I brief myself to land back on if able, turn through 90 degrees, 180 or to fly a full abridged cct with a mid runway touchdown as necessary.
RIX
P.s. out of interest, how many of you are truly comfortable with slipping, should the best option be too close with too much height in hand? I practice slipping to touchdown even in the 182.