The ability to send other players private messages through the forums has been added.  You can do so by clicking on any forum user's name, and clicking the "Send a private message" link.  You can manage your own PMs through a new link at the top right of the forum that says "Private Messages".

This isn't a replacement for the ingame messaging system.  That will still be there for the time being.

That said, you are more than welcome to use this to contact other players about game related events, but the primary purpose of this addition is to allow people the ability to communicate with eachother outside of the actual galaxies and between rounds.  This is also nice for players who don't actually play, but still hang out in the forums.

This will also allow you to contact any of the staff members if you don't know where they play and can't find them on IRC.  However, this is not officially a support mechanism: we are currently working on something else to serve that purpose.  You are welcome to contact any of the staff with this feature but if they aren't responding to your private message(s), please be patient.  Spamming them, or anybody for that matter, will result in appropriate disciplinary action.

We will be modifying the current rules to account for this new addition, but until then please use common sense.  We do have the ability to look into problem messages if they are reported, and will enforce appropriate punishment for violations if we need to do so.

With all that out of the way, enjoy the improved communication!  As always, your feedback is welcome.