Damper Field would have been useful on Brawler if it had a good chance to block EMP from Salamanders. Since it does not, it is worthless.
Centurion was the original owner of Damper Field. In 0.9, Centurion will be able to point four turrets ahead, and hopefully not stay as a worse Monitor imitation. All it needs now is a useful system, and it will finally be the midline assault frigate alongside low-tech's Lasher and high-tech's Wolf. Damper Field was useful on Centurion when it was 75%. But at 50%, it really is "a curl up and die button."
Damper Field on Mora may be annoying, but at least it is different than Heron.
lots of new ships don't have full PD coverage (Drover, Legion)
They are carriers. Plus, Drover can get 360 shields. If they need more PD, they could recall fighters, at least the playership can.
Things like Brawler have no PD at all, which hurts. When stuff like Lasher and Wolf can use some PD and get the killing job done, why use Brawler when I have better options?
and forcing compositions (say a PD Centurion/Monitor with your Brawler gunships) should be a good thing.
I will just use ships that do not need escorts. Why use two specialists that need babysitting when I can do the same or more, and likely with less micromanagement, with two general-purpose ships? The latter are the baseline assault ships, and they are generally effective.
I would love for the Brawler to get AMF back and the Mora to get something else. Fast missile racks might be too powerful/just make it into an ultra condor.
Was pre-0.8 Venture an ultra Condor? I don't think so. It was only overpowered when both Salamanders and the system were unlimited.
I would not want Fast Missile Racks on Mora because it is a dedicated carrier, not a gunship or missileship. (I was annoyed with Fast Missile Racks on Venture when it is good, would have preferred High Energy Focus or something else instead.) Missile-focused ships are ill-suited for endurance fights, and since Mora is a carrier, it should put nearly all of its OP into fighters, not weapons or missiles. (I only mount two 2 OP Reapers and a few other small ballistics on Mora. Rest of OP goes to fighters and related hullmods.) A generalist or fighter-focused system on Mora would be most useful.
I would just entirely remove the system from the game to be honest. I don't find it fun to use it nor to fight against it.
I do not totally disagree with this. The only time I would use it is after my ship is near max flux (or would take a hit that would overload shields) and it is too dangerous to vent. At 75% it was useful, and it was a bit fun watching the Centurion shrug off ordnance like a tough guy. Now at 50%, the frigates take too much damage, and it is better to simply vent and hope your ship does not die.