This could be a terrible idea, but just a suggestion. (this may have already been suggested before. If it has, I apologize)
I am for the Global Chat, but why not make it a gold sink?
You have to spend X amount of gold for each post. Maybe even increase the X amount of gold for each additional post. For example
1 message- 100 Gold
2 messages- 1,000 Gold
2 messages- 10,000 Gold
etc.
Just substitute the actual numbers in. This would reset at Midnight server time. Just a thought. I think the more gold sinks the better. This could also be used for the FSBox and Shoutbox. Instead of using FSPs you could use gold. Perhaps 180K gold. This would encourage people to spend Gold instead of FSPs. Thus, result in a gold sink.
Thoughts, Suggestions?
Not to burn your idea completely to the ground, but I think the Global Chat should be a mechanism that helps guiding the newcomers, not to scare them away due to they can't afford to ask ^^
In that case, Perhaps make it scaled to level? Kind of like PvP. Where its +/- 25 Levels for players under 100, +/- 50 levels for 100-500.
So it could be free for players under level 25
Then an increase of .5 for each additional message for players 25-200
Then an increase of 1 for each additional message for players 201-400
etc.
I'm just throwing out ideas here. If these get completely shot down, then oh well. Personally, I think this could be a good use for a gold sink, but if the majority disagrees. Then I am okay with that.