this may be sacralage to some of you but another idea for chat is to create a room in mirc like another forum group i talk to alot do. a couple of them have ownership or something on the room and are seen as in there most of the time. most of them are on most of the time discussing map editing and stuff and a lot of time they just have fun but a couple log all what goes on so as to answer questions later in the main forums.... you find that time zone thing seems less of a problem.. just a thought.