Something the L5R system is not very clear about (as far as I can tell) is which effect wins when two effect have contrary outcomes.
For example, if I have cast Katana of Fire ("Damage inflicted by this weapon is supernatural rather than physical") und later make a (kata) attack with it.
- The Thunderclap Strike kata says "target suffers damage equal to your weapon's base damage". Since damage is undefined, doubtless that would be supernatural damage because of Katana of Fire.
- The Strike action says "you deal physical damage", which pretty obviously should be turned into supernatural damage, or the invocation would have almost no effect.
- The Flowing Water Strike kata deals Water Ring physical damage, which after a failed check is increased by the weapon's base damage. Is all that damage physical? Is the Water Ring damage physical und the weapon base damage supernatural? (is each lowered by its resistance, then?) Is all damage supernatural?
- The Crimson Leaves Strike kata deals Earth Ring physical damage. Does that become supernatural as well?
One could argue that "damage inflicted becomes supernatural" tops all other damage definitions. Or that "damage inflicted" only means where the base damage is referenced. One could argue that the Strike action is the basis and techniques are a higher level of rule that modify the basis, but that techniques have the same level and thus do not modify if they say contrary things. So in a Strike action, the damage changes to supernatural, but if a kata says it deals physical damage, that remains physical damage.
What do You say?