How about Icons across the top for forum categories, I guess as long as it was as small forum it would be ok, each Icon you clicks get bigger so you know what forum your in?
BIG ICON -icon1--icon2--icon3--icon4--icon5--icon6--icon7--icon8-
1st post Teaser Description------User------last replier (views)(reply now)
2nd post Teaser Description------User------Post count (views)(reply now)
4th post Teaser Description------User------Post count (views)(reply now)
5th post Teaser Description------User------Post count (views)(reply now)
It would be easy to navigate.