Well, first I'd like to apologize for any miss - typing of anything contained herein. It'ts late and i'm drunk, but here goes
1. I think, you know how sme some sites have that JavaScript that says how many people are online at the site at one time, well how bout using that script in the forums... You know, like 5 people are currently browsing the forums etc...
2. An option to search the forums for topics and replies etc, I wouldn't want to see such a thing on every page, but more on a link etc
I'm sure I had more ideas to swank up the message board, but I just can't think of them right now....