MadMonkey: Well it sounds like pauloaguia does not read the GC board because of past problems.... and those types of members most likely already know about the discussion boards, and are not the ones I'm thinking about targeting. I'm more thinking of the ones who never visited a board before, or maybe once but does not go through the trouble of trying to find the boards - possible coming here, playing a few games, and leaving. Giving them quick access to the BK.com board allows them a place to ask questions about the site, and see other site related information & questions that users post. Having a link to GC board allows them a place to "chat" so they don't come on bk.com board and start a friendly conversation - which most likely will get them a warning to take it to GC, which in turn puts some people off as the boards not being friends, and in the end turning them away from the site.

Why can't the GC board be used with pawns to post also? What would the purpose be for a pawn only board? That is for the current example where some paid users want to find pawns interested in trying out the bishop membership, if the paid member can't post on the pawn only board - then the pawn only board would be pointless. And if you say that paid members can post on a pawn board, then it goes back to why can't everyone just use the general chat board?