I have to humbly admit that I know nothing of messageboard soft, dtabases or PhP. It just happened so that I never had to deal with it -- the only package I remotely meddled with was Invision Power Board, and the only database I ever used was antiquited version of ORACLE.
It's been a learn-on-the-job experience, believe me. The only reason I had any familiarity with SQL, coming into this project, is that AutoDesk uses it for AutoCAD Map and the Map interface with ESRI databases.
I wasted an awful lot of time trying to make the current postnuke setup work only to be stymied by promising mods being abandoned half-finished.
But if you think participation can improve chances of getting Attic rehauled to the more writer-oriented interface -- I will learn.
I know a few other very serious programmers around here who I am sure would offer their services as well.
I'm checking out a portal/board system now while waiting for a very promising CMS that is expected to go to beta late next month. The CMS is supposed to integrate well with the portal/board set.
User interface and/or board integration has killed every one I've tried so far. Ideally, we should be able to use the board as a gateway into the CMS, building the novels archives from a Cellar-style setup.
If I can squeeze out the time to do the proof-of-concept before the CMS goes beta, and I like what I see, I'll probably start calling in volunteers then. I may go live with a partial setup and ask that we do some things manually while we work on automating them.
I just don't want to get people started working while I'm still making up my mind, and assembling a proof-of-concept fifteen minutes at a time isn't conducive to a quick decision.