Forum access permissions for differently ranked groups
 

Hello All*

Please* advise on how to make users from different groups happy :)

We created a restricted forum "Contest" for its participants. We also created an open public "Contest" group with the permissions based on "Registered Users" (the latter is allowed to have its own groups)* but with open access to the restricted forum. Now* when "Registered Users" (primary) become members of the "Contest" group (secondary)* they get access to the restricted forum. This part works.

We can't figure out what to do when members of a privileged group* such as Moderators or Super Moderators* want to participate in the contest. If "Contest" becomes their secondary group* their personal permissions basically get cut to the "Registered Users" level (e.g. signature* attachments* PM* etc). They don't take it easy :) On the other hand* we don't want all moderators access the restricted forum.

We tried setting the groups the other way around* that is "Contest" - primary* "Moderators" - secondary. But there are some quirks. For example* Moderators have unlimited PM or attachments (the value is zero)* and those parameters get overridden by the "Contest" group permissions.

I'm aware of access masks* but this is not the right solution here. For some purposes* we'd like to have all contest participants in the "Contest" group.

I'd appreciate any input on how to set group permissions in this case.
Thank you!