MPH 2B Damase, Kharoṣṭhī script and fontconfig
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The below is a summary of the discussion that followed the ITP of
this font. For the original discussion, please read the following URL:

http://bugs.debian.org/306290

This font lacks contextual substitution (OpenType tables) and composite
glyphs needed to fully support the Kharoṣṭhī script. It covers a
wider range of scripts than a font solely focused on the Kharoṣṭhī
script, which would likely have more complete support for this script
(including contextual substitution and composite glyphs). As a result of
the behaviour of the default Debian font matching system (fontconfig),
where it prefers fonts that support a broader range of scripts, MPH
2B Damase might be preferred over a not yet created font with better
support for the Kharoṣṭhī script. This font matching system will not
be desirable if you have a specific Kharoṣṭhī font available (with
better support for this script). There is one such font being worked on
by Andrew Glass. Discussion of how to fix fontconfig so that it prefers
fonts with better support for specific scripts is ongoing. Furthermore,
some of the complex rendering support necessary for Kharoṣṭhī is not
available in Debian or any other Operating System at the time of writing.
Another script in Damase faced with a similar problem is Limbu, however,
with Limbu, complex shaping requirements are minimal and text can be
read almost as easily without them.

