[retrospec]

I second that and suggest an additional option. I’m using private forums but it is lacking two things that would make it great and make bbPress more in line with other forums:

1. allow viewing to be based on class, e.g. I have a admin section that I only want admins to even know exists, but I also have other forums that I do want people to see but not necessarily acces, which leads onto…

2. allow the ability to reply to topics but not create new ones, e.g. you have fixed items (like, say a support forum) where people can post questions but not create new topics.