Defense in Close Combat

You can dodge normally in close
combat. You can only parry using an
empty hand or a weapon with reach
“C” (e.g., a knife). You cannot block at
all!
You can retreat (see p. 377) in close
combat, if you aren’t being grappled.
Simply step out of close combat and
into any of the three hexes on your
side of the close-combat hex. This
gives the usual bonus to your active
defense roll.