Dame Josephine (Dark Ages)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Dame Josephine:

Dame Josephine Strategy Guide

Introduction Dame Josephine is one of the Knights from the Dark Ages expansion, combining attack, trashing, and victory point capabilities in a single card. Understanding when and how to use her effectively requires careful consideration of the game state and available kingdom cards.

Core Characteristics - Costs $5 - Provides 2 Victory Points - Forces opponents to trash cards within a specific cost range - Risk of losing her in Knight battles - Terminal action (no +Actions)

Key Strengths

1. Victory Point Value Dame Josephine's 2VP makes her valuable even if you never play her. This "floor" value means she's rarely a completely dead card, unlike many other attack cards that become less useful in the late game.

2. Targeted Trashing Range The $3-$6 range is particularly potent because it hits:

3. Silver ($3)
4. Most engine components
5. Many attacks
6. Key payload cards

7. Other Knights

8. Multiple Card Visibility Revealing two cards increases the likelihood of finding a trashable target, making her more reliable than single-card reveal attacks.

Weaknesses

1. Terminal Action Like most Knights, Dame Josephine doesn't provide additional actions, potentially clogging your deck if you acquire too many.

2. Self-Destructive Nature The risk of losing her in Knight battles means she's vulnerable when facing other Knight strategies.

3. Limited Attack Range Cards costing less than $3 or more than $6 are immune, including:

4. Copper
5. Gold
6. Provinces
7. Most high-end attack cards
8. Many powerful engine pieces costing $7+

Strategic Considerations

1. Timing of Acquisition

Early Game: - Generally a strong early purchase if you can hit $5 - Helps thin opponent's decks while building your own - Early acquisition maximizes attack potential before opponents build strong engines

Mid Game: - Still valuable for both attack and VP - Consider carefully if opponents have other Knights - May want to prioritize engine building instead

Late Game: - Primary value shifts to VP contribution - Attack becomes less relevant as key cards are already acquired - Can still disrupt last-minute engine building

1. Number to Buy

The optimal number of Dame Josephines depends on several factors:

Conservative Approach (1-2): - Minimal deck interference - Still provides VP contribution - Maintains attack pressure - Lower risk of Knight collisions

Aggressive Approach (3+): - Stronger attack presence - More VP accumulation - Higher risk of terminal collision - Increased vulnerability to other Knights

Key factors in deciding quantity: - Presence of other terminals - Available trashing - Action density - Other Knights in kingdom - Alternative VP sources

1. Complementary Cards

Action Suppliers: - Villages (any variety) - Festival - Market - Native Village These help mitigate her terminal nature

Deck Control: - Scrying Pool - Oracle - Wandering Minstrel Help ensure she hits when needed

Card Draw: - Laboratory - Smithy - Council Room Increase chances of playing her when drawn

Throne Room Effects: - Throne Room - King's Court - Crown Allow multiple uses, though risky with other Knights present

1. Counter Strategies

Against Dame Josephine:

Defense Cards: - Moat - Lighthouse - Champion Provide direct immunity

Alternative Strategies: - Focus on $2 cost cards - Prioritize $7+ cards - Build quickly to Provinces - Use Copper-focused strategies

Card Protection: - Watchtower - Royal Seal - Haven Help protect key cards from being revealed

1. Specific Combos

Strong Synergies:

Tracker/Scheme: - Control what opponents reveal - Increase attack effectiveness

Treasure Map: - Can trash opponent's Maps before they mature - Falls within trashing range

Bridge: - Expands range of trashable cards - Creates more targets

Highway: - Similar to Bridge effects - Makes more cards vulnerable

1. Kingdom Considerations

Favorable Kingdoms:

• Limited trashing options
• Many $3-$6 cost cards
• Few other attacks
• Good action suppliers
• Alternative VP sources

Unfavorable Kingdoms:

• Heavy Knight presence
• Strong trashing options
• Many cards outside $3-$6 range
• Terminal action competition

• Strong defense cards

• Multiplayer Dynamics

2-Player Games: - More consistent attack impact - Higher value per purchase - Easier to control timing - More predictable outcomes

3+ Player Games: - Distributed attack impact - More Knights in play - Higher risk of losing her - More complex timing decisions

1. Advanced Techniques

Timing Optimization: - Track opponent's shuffles - Monitor deck composition - Calculate probability of hitting key cards

Knight Management: - Consider not playing her against other Knights - Use as VP source when attack is risky - Time plays to maximize impact

Deck Tracking: - Monitor trashed cards - Adjust strategy based on remaining targets - Calculate remaining attack value

1. Common Mistakes to Avoid

2. Over-investing:

3. Buying too many copies
4. Creating terminal collision problems

5. Increasing vulnerability to other Knights

6. Poor Timing:

7. Playing into other Knights
8. Attacking empty decks

9. Missing key opportunities

10. Strategic Errors:

11. Ignoring VP value
12. Focusing too much on attack

13. Neglecting engine building

14. Tactical Mistakes:

15. Not tracking opponent's decks
16. Poor target selection

17. Insufficient action support

18. Strategy Tips by Game Phase

Opening ($5/2): - Strong opener if no other Knights - Consider with action splitting - Evaluate kingdom synergies

Early Game: - Build action support - Target key engine pieces - Establish attack pressure

Mid Game: - Balance attack vs. engine - Consider additional copies - Monitor Knight threats

Late Game: - Shift focus to VP value - Selective attack usage - Protect from other Knights

1. Sample Strategies

Engine Disruption: - Target engine components - Focus on timing - Maintain pressure

Big Money Support: - Remove opponent's Silver - Slow engine development - Accumulate VP

Mixed Approach: - Balanced acquisition - Flexible targeting - VP accumulation

Conclusion

Dame Josephine is a versatile card that combines attack power with victory points, making her valuable throughout the game. Success with her requires:

• Careful timing of purchases and plays
• Understanding of kingdom context
• Proper support cards
• Strategic flexibility
• Awareness of risks

While not always a game-dominating card, she can be a strong contributor to many strategies and shouldn't be overlooked when available. Her ability to both generate points and disrupt opponents makes her a valuable addition to many decks, particularly when properly supported and thoughtfully employed.

Key Takeaways:

1. Values both utility and VP
2. Requires careful timing
3. Benefits from action support
4. Presents unique risks
5. Offers strategic flexibility

Remember that successful use of Dame Josephine often depends more on knowing when not to play her than aggressive use of her attack. Balance her various attributes and always consider the broader game context when incorporating her into your strategy.