[chatmasta]

You’d probably be best suited using vBulletin / phpBB and developing plugins for to solve your relatively few custom requirements. Don’t waste time building custom forum software when you don’t even have a product or customers...

[jamocon]

Thanks. I actually have a little experience with both of them so that'll help. 1 of the reason I was considering building a custom forum implementation was the learning experience but after a little research yesterday I may have slightly underestimated the task/time frame.

I'm not actually selling, nor creating a product. It's more of a educational thing, both for me (I've already learned a bit about SCADA systems, no doubt I'll learn more in different areas) and hopefully others. The forum part for instance serves 2 purposes, 1 it's part of a egg hunt & basic crypto level and 2. To satisfy my own nostalgia for old forums and hopefully bring a couple like minded people together :)

PS. There are no tips here