Can I light up a starter with a 200k resistor? I think 1mA will not heat the electrodes enough.
All will be sealed up in an incandescent bulb jacket, so, using normal 1/4 watt resistor should not me a problem. Unless there is a massive shaking and I accidentally put the wires close.
The problem is if you exceed the resistor voltage rating, it will flashover. The higher value resistors of a certain size are not anymore limited by the power, but by the voltage rating. The carbon "1/4W" 0207 size ones are usually limited to 250V peak, so not enough for 230V mains. The metal film 0.5W ones of the same 0207 are 500V, so just marginally OK. But you may connect multiple resistors in series to split the voltage...
And the power rating assumes 25degC ambient temperature (the air around the resistor), but a derating has to be applied as a strsight line dropping to zero at 70degC for carbon or 150degC for metal film.
And a good design practice dictates to never go above 50% of the power dissipation rating...