Combat is not always your best option! If your expedition’s villagers meet the following requirements, you can opt to resolve conflict in a different fashion. See below for the stat/skill requirements to participate in alternative combat.

Beasts
Hunting: Traps skill 4 and Gathering skill 4
Sickness: Two party members with Intelligence 4, and a Medic 2 or Herbalism 3

Demons and Ghosts
Social: Two party members with Speech 6
Sneak: Two party members with Stealth 6
Hex (Magic): Two party members with Magic 5
Tactics: Two party members with Intelligence 5

Unliving
Sneak: Two party members with Stealth 6
Tactics: Two party members with Intelligence 5
Hex (Magic): Two party members with Magic 5

Trolls
Tactics: Two party members with Intelligence 6

Dragons
Social: Two party members with Social 6
Intellect: One party member with Perception 4 and at least one item made of gold or one gold resource in the expedition’s inventory.