Do I really have to join the board...?

Settings can vary by board, but usually, public boards allow immediate participation! You don't have to join if it's inconvenient, but it can be easier to communicate if you do.

You can comment if it's not for benefits, but if the quest requires commenting on the board, you'll probably have to join anyway. If you're aiming for benefits, you should definitely hurry and join the board!

Joining the board isn't mandatory, but it does limit your commenting options. It wasn't like this before, but lately, there are more posts on the boards than in the free discussion area, so that's why.

Lately, you have to join a board to get a lot of gems, so it's kind of mandatory.