Everything about isobel is cringe: spoilers

[Your memes end here]

I tried to save her and attacked the winged guy
But I failed to, the winged thing two shot her before my party even got a turn
Once she was KO'd a cutscene played where he flew off with her
I genuinely wondered why that was a combat encounter and not just a scripted cutscene where you were forced to lose - if not for what came next I'd have thought it was unwinnable.

But apprantly it was an option, because now my party is blaming me for destroying the light city, and the cult credits me for isobel's abduction. I've accidentally ended up on team bad guy because of an almost unwinnable encounter.

First time I genuinely felt frustrated

[Phero]

Just re-load, imo. I had that encounter and kept healing her until the fight was over.

[Mr.Misfit]

I think you might have gotten to the place not prepared. The encounter is neither unwinnable nor strongly scripted. Except for "The Attack happens" and "Marcus focuses on Isobel" as well as "You lose if Isobel is ko'ed". But most missions in XCom play out the same way.

You do need to focus on healing Isobel immediately and focus on the kidnapper though, for me I was able to down him in the first round thanks to 4 attacks and a lucky crit but I was....oh, lvl 6 at that point with most equip at +1? It's definitely doable but you have to be clever. I understand the frustration, I entered the cutscene as well, got the attack and he immediately went for her and I lost the encounter and she got abducted but I then breathed, reloaded and pre-planned.

Elixirs can also help a whole bunch. Also remember you can throw healing potions at your party members to apply their effects.

[Stormcaller]

if I remember right when I played either Shadowheart or Isobel basically trivialized the fight by casting Turn Undead, all the Winged Horrors ran away while my party pummeled Marcus until he died.

[Djayc85]

I won the fight quiet easily tbh. I think this is one of those times where git gud is appropriate

[Your memes end here]

Originally posted by Djayc85:

I won the fight quiet easily tbh. I think this is one of those times where git gud is appropriate

To be clear I'm not mad that I lost I'm mad that losing has caused the game to treat me like I intentionally helped the cult - like even the cultists are treating my character like a hero for fighting the winged creature and losing. It's nonsensical and immersion ruining.

I promised myself I wouldn't scumsave on the first playthrough

[Caldrin]

I wont the fight pretty easy.. he got her down quite low but I just had my cleric heal her right back up then finished off the fight with my other guys..

Was close tho if he had some lucky roles he could have well killed her ..

[Tomas Mac Mordain]

Game is badly written. Just lost Isobel to what looked like a scripted 'you lose' through a resilient sphere. I've saved like 40 mins ago going through all the conversations/exploration at the inn.

Got to run through all that ♥♥♥♥ again because the game decided to cheat...

[FlyingAllNight]

Few options in that fight. If played right you can save the city and keep her there alive and protecting the city.

Then later if you are a soulless killer you can go back and kill her setting off a domino affect of chaos. Fun fun

[Sel Und Irae]

Originally posted by Your memes end here:

I tried to save her and attacked the winged guy
But I failed to, the winged thing two shot her before my party even got a turn
Once she was KO'd a cutscene played where he flew off with her
I genuinely wondered why that was a combat encounter and not just a scripted cutscene where you were forced to lose - if not for what came next I'd have thought it was unwinnable.

But apprantly it was an option, because now my party is blaming me for destroying the light city, and the cult credits me for isobel's abduction. I've accidentally ended up on team bad guy because of an almost unwinnable encounter.

First time I genuinely felt frustrated

Wait, You helped her? I thought the old lady in that town was helluva annoying and forcing you to talk to pretty princess was cringe so i went upstairs thought i could throw her off balcony then got berated by a pet on leash and left the people in the town to get yeeted by spooky bois.

[Limz]

Originally posted by Tomas Mac Mordain:

Game is badly written. Just lost Isobel to what looked like a scripted 'you lose' through a resilient sphere. I've saved like 40 mins ago going through all the conversations/exploration at the inn.

Got to run through all that ♥♥♥♥ again because the game decided to cheat...

Or that your party is underleveled and/or you aren't using all the tools available to you.

[Solomon Kane]

Just rat him out immedately, the moment you first enter the place, then kill him, never got the Isobel fight at all in my playthrough.

[Caramel_Clown]

You can literally win that fight by just casting invisibility on her. It's what I did, just a scroll will do. It wins you one extra turn, which you can use to burst or lock the abductor. Rest of the trash is easily taken care of. Use the utility. Man, people are so focused on just trying to outheal or out-dps enemies. Where you could simply change the rules of the engagement.

[Caramel_Clown]

Originally posted by Solomon Kane:

Just rat him out immedately, the moment you first enter the place, then kill him, never got the Isobel fight at all in my playthrough.

Kinda sounds like just playing with a guide, in which case what's the point.

[Monocaine]

Winged boy died turn one and then I just blocked the doors with my bodies.

That and SHART also casted sanctuary on her.

[Solomon Kane]

Originally posted by Caramel_Clown:

Originally posted by Solomon Kane:

Just rat him out immedately, the moment you first enter the place, then kill him, never got the Isobel fight at all in my playthrough.

Kinda sounds like just playing with a guide, in which case what's the point.

That is how I played it though, no guide or anything, just recently found out that there is an Isobel Fight, and even if other people use a guide to have their prefered outcome, it is not your place to judge at all.