Dam the Heart's River and Target Vitals

Question: Does Target Vitals count as a "damaging effect" as far as Dam the Heart's River is concerned? (In other words, does it add +3 to a damaging strike when played under a Dam?)

Please bear in mind that although the damage from T.V. augments the strike itself and does not count as a separate SOURCE of damage from the strike, the card text of DtHR does not explicitly concern itself with sources, but does concern itself with effects.

Yes, there is already a thread called "Dam the Heart's + River Target Vitals" at this location:
www.vekn.net/forum/rules-questions/68345-dam-the-heart-s-river-target-vitals

One would expect to find the answer made clear there, but it is not. Jamesatzephyr makes the "source" argument, citing the following LSJ ruling for Nephandus:
groups.google.com/g/rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad/c/_IwgQEvViWQ/m/1g36C5Y2BSoJ?pli=1

Since Nephandus's special uses the same "strike or damaging effect" text as DtHR, it would appear that they should both affect (or not affect) the same set of cards and effects. Moreover, LSJ did rule that TV damage is not reduced by Nephandus's special, so it's reasonable to assume (if abiding by that ruling) that TV will not be increased by DtHR.

Here's the thing, though.. it really just looks like a brain fart from LSJ. He makes no explanation or why or how "sources" of damage are relevant to the conversation. There are many, many cases of multiple damaging effects contributing to a single source of damage in the game. Sources and and effects are most definitely not the same thing, and they are both important technical game terms with clearly separate meanings.

Should I assume that DtHR is just considered by the rules team to be incorrectly worded for its desired effect, or is there a new ruling that clarifies the matter? Perhaps it's simply the case that damage-augmenting cards such as TV should not count as a damaging effects (which could be a fine ruling, just not one that's been explicitly stated anywhere)?

Thanks very much,
-Billy

Name: Target Vitals
Cardtype: Combat
Aim. Only usable as this minion chooses a strike. A minion can play only one aim each strike.
If any damage from this strike is successfully inflicted on the opposing minion, they take +2 damage from this strike, and they cannot press this round. They can discard two combat cards to cancel this card as it is played.

Name: Dam the Heart's River
Cardtype: Combat
Discipline: Quietus
Frenzy. Only usable before range is determined. A vampire can play only one Dam the Heart's River each combat.
[qui] This combat, each strike or damaging effect made against the opposing minion inflicts +1 damage.
[QUI] As above, and this combat, strikes cost the opposing minion 1 additional blood or life, and they can choose not to strike.

Name: Nephandus
AKA: Nephandus (Mage)
Cardtype: Ally
Clan: Tremere antitribu
Cost: 2 pool
Mage with 2 life. 0 strength, 1 bleed.
Nephandus can strike: 1R damage. Nephandus gets 1 optional press each combat. Nephandus can burn a vampire in torpor to gain 1 life as a action. Each strike or damaging effect made by the opposing minion against Nephandus in combat inflicts 1 less damage.

IANALSJ but it's been a while since I've thought about the game so here goes.

Dam the Heart's River and Nephandus (Mage) modify the output of a strike or effect, which is a source of damage to the target. The output of a damage-dealing strike is damage inflicted. TV modifies the input, not the output, which means it is not a damaging effect itself.

Or put another way:

Perhaps it's simply the case that damage-augmenting cards such as TV should not count as a damaging effects (which could be a fine ruling, just not one that's been explicitly stated anywhere)?

No ruling needed. TV and other damage-augmenting cards are not damaging effects by definition. The card is augmenting the damaging effect (in this case, a strike).

Is it not damaging to increase damage, by definition? Ruling needed.

What is a damaging effect?

Killiam wrote:

Is it not damaging to increase damage, by definition?

IMO not in this context, because DtHR looks for discrete sources of damage, not increased magnitude from a single instance of damage.

Several sources might resolve at the same time (e.g., multiple Murder of Crows) and each will trigger DtHR - but only because each represents a discrete packet of damage.

The "effect" part is on the card so that non-strike, environmental sources receive the buff. The prime example which includes a specific ruling for DtHR is Dagon's Call

Dagon's Call [Quietus]
A vampire can play only one Dagon's Call each combat.
[qui] Strike: hand strike, and the opposing minion takes 1 unpreventable environmental damage during the press step each round this combat (only effective if this strike was made at close range).
[QUI] As above, and this hand strike is at +1 damage.

RULING: Both the strike and the environmental damage would get boosted by Dam the Heart's River. [PIB 20150520]

So...two discrete damage sources even from the same card = two triggers for DtHR.
One damage packet of increased magnitude even with multiple cards = one DtHR increase.

Also note, there is no DtHR ruling on the "aim-like" Strike at the True Flesh. Each application of SatTF only modifies one source of damage and should not interact with DtHR.

Strike at the True Flesh [Quietus]
Only usable before resolution of a melee weapon's strike.
[qui] Non-aggravated damage from this weapon's strikes cannot be prevented except by equipment or by other strikes this round.
[QUI] As above, and this weapon's strikes inflict +1 damage this round.

This is a good question.
(Replying to: "What is a damaging effect?")