Bare fists are not going to fare very well against all the various weapons people will often have against you in combat so the first task is going to find something...anything to exert bodily harm on the nasties you will encounter. If you have nothing else, your first entry into a forest hex should be used to craft a big stick. Even a metro-male weenie has this skill. Maybe a stick is not as good as a crowbar, but it sure packs a better punch than bare hands in melee. For the other hand just as easy is to pick up a couple of throwing rocks. You don’t need the ranged skill to lob a rock at a charging enemy. Even without the ranged skill, at a distance of 4 or 5 a thrown rock can either slow an attacker down, or turn the initial encounter to your advantage. If you are lucky enough to also have a sharp tool you can sharpen that stick to a point which can quickly cause bleeding to an attacker in melee.

Simply put, combat should be avoided in most cases. In only a few circumstances should you actually seek combat. Use the several options to separate yourself from the enemy. Stepping back is good if you are 2 or 3 distance. Faster options are good if you are further away. The problem with running or rapid withdraws is the likelihood of tripping and falling are greater. Falling can cause you to spent a round just getting up which isn’t terrible if you are pretty far away, but falling down within striking distance will guarantee a good pummeling. Every encounter you can conclude by getting out of the hex unscaved should be considered a victory. Noise making traps are great for when you sleep so someone doesn’t wake you up with a smack across the head with a monkey wrench. The problem with these is that they take up a lot of space in your backpack and leaving them in a camp that you always return to is dangerous for reasons best left to another game guide.

If you can’t extract yourself from the combat, you've used your ranged weapon/rocks, and the enemy is within melee striking distance, your only option left is to fight. Choosing parry or dodge should be your most common (and least risky) choice especially if the enemy is better armed/stronger than you. What you are trying to do is get the advantage such as when the enemy has attempted an aggressive maneuver and missed. At these moments your response can be to attack against their vulnerability. Or, if you are really outmatched or outnumbered use the opportunity to put more space between you and them by choosing a separation (run or step) option. Do not choose the flurry attack unless the enemy is clearly disadvantaged and hurting pretty bad. You will lose a response phase after this choice and an attacker that is still functioning will take advantage.

The game interface can be a tad confusing in this regard, but note on the right where it shows the enemy information, a toggle button will allow you to sequence through the various attacker’s stats including their distance from you. Two is bad enough, but three or four is crazy...what were you thinking, get the heck out of there! Even feeble Melonheads can do irreparable damage to you in numbers. Imagine the horror of a dozen little fists doing a beatdown. Ugh. Click through the attackers finding the closest one and choose your response accordingly. As before, parry and dodge are the best choice if they are right on top of you. Run like heck when you get the chance.

Regardless of the rule to avoid combat, there are some circumstances you will choose to seek combat. Foraging for food and water is the best approach but sometimes the pangs of hunger or dehydration can begin to take their toll on you. Nothing like a good human ham butt on a stick for dinner. /sarcasm Melonheads and Looters are weaker than Raiders so if you are wanting to aggressively take stuff theirs is a better option. Remember however, Melonheads travel in numbers and can call their buddies for help so these encounters can quickly escalate out of control if you are not careful. And just because you happen to be lucky enough to have a killer weapon like a gun that actually HAS ammo, you are best served to save that for the eventual Dogman or other nightmares that stalk in the dark when do-or-die is forced upon you.

Enter combat and close the distance to the enemy. Charging is best done from a distance since falling can leave you vulnerable which, once again, is not good if you are too close to the enemy. I usually charge toward them until I close to 4 or 5 and then advance more carefully minimizing the chance of tripping. Tackling the foe is only advisable if they are really weak and trying to escape because if you miss they will have a free shot at you next phase as you try to recover. If it is their stuff you’re after you can sometimes get them to surrender if you have bloodied and beat on them pretty bad. If you plan on them for dinner, keep pummeling until dead and tender.

Happy Surviving.