[spoon]

Is there any difference between these two abilities (besides the latter not working against Master Computers?)

Search on the topic came up with this:

Phoenix-D: Actually the two weapons do different things. One increases reload time the other disrupts it. AFAIK shooting the Energy Dampener at a ship armed with APBs or PPBs won't have any effect, where the Flailer will.

Baron Munchausen: The difference between energy dampener and mental flailer is that one affects energy (dampener, the 'disrupt reload time' power) while the other affects minds (the 'increase reload time' power). So, the Energy Dampener will affect any ship, while the Flailer only affects ships with crews, NOT ships with Master Computers!

Thanks,
-Spoon