diff --git a/app/Community/Actions/BuildShowForumTopicPagePropsAction.php b/app/Community/Actions/BuildShowForumTopicPagePropsAction.php
index c679341c3b..b7a0821a69 100644
--- a/app/Community/Actions/BuildShowForumTopicPagePropsAction.php
+++ b/app/Community/Actions/BuildShowForumTopicPagePropsAction.php
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 use App\Data\UserData;
 use App\Data\UserPermissionsData;
 use App\Models\ForumTopic;
+use App\Models\ForumTopicComment;
 use App\Models\User;
 use App\Policies\ForumTopicCommentPolicy;
 use App\Support\Shortcode\Shortcode;
@@ -62,14 +63,21 @@ public function execute(
             hubIds: $entities['hubIds'],
         );
 
-        // Get accessible team accounts for the current user.
         $accessibleTeamAccounts = null;
+        $replyableTeamAccounts = null;
         $accessibleTeamIds = [];
         if ($user) {
             $accessibleTeamIds = (new ForumTopicCommentPolicy())->getAccessibleTeamIds($user);
             if (!empty($accessibleTeamIds)) {
-                $teamUsers = User::whereIn('id', $accessibleTeamIds)->get();
+                $teamUsers = User::whereIn('id', $accessibleTeamIds)->with('roles')->get();
                 $accessibleTeamAccounts = $teamUsers->map(fn ($teamUser) => UserData::fromUser($teamUser)->include('id'));
+
+                $replyEligibleTeamUsers = $teamUsers->filter(
+                    fn (User $teamUser) => $user->can('create', [ForumTopicComment::class, $topic, $teamUser]),
+                );
+                $replyableTeamAccounts = $replyEligibleTeamUsers->isNotEmpty()
+                    ? $replyEligibleTeamUsers->values()->map(fn ($teamUser) => UserData::fromUser($teamUser)->include('id'))
+                    : null;
             }
         }
 
@@ -108,6 +116,7 @@ function ($comment, $index) use ($updatedBodies, $user, $accessibleTeamIds) {
 
         $props = new ShowForumTopicPagePropsData(
             accessibleTeamAccounts: $accessibleTeamAccounts,
+            replyableTeamAccounts: $replyableTeamAccounts,
             can: UserPermissionsData::fromUser($user, forumTopic: $topic)->include(
                 'authorizeForumTopicComments',
                 'createForumTopicComments',
diff --git a/app/Data/ShowForumTopicPagePropsData.php b/app/Data/ShowForumTopicPagePropsData.php
index 32ac86e498..cc200a4871 100644
--- a/app/Data/ShowForumTopicPagePropsData.php
+++ b/app/Data/ShowForumTopicPagePropsData.php
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class ShowForumTopicPagePropsData extends Data
 {
     /**
      * @param Collection<int, UserData>|null $accessibleTeamAccounts
+     * @param Collection<int, UserData>|null $replyableTeamAccounts
      */
     public function __construct(
         public UserPermissionsData $can,
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ public function __construct(
         public PaginatedData $paginatedForumTopicComments,
         public string $metaDescription,
         public ?Collection $accessibleTeamAccounts = null,
+        public ?Collection $replyableTeamAccounts = null,
     ) {
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/Helpers/database/forum.php b/app/Helpers/database/forum.php
index 6df1fa8b6b..ef8964be19 100644
--- a/app/Helpers/database/forum.php
+++ b/app/Helpers/database/forum.php
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 use App\Models\ForumTopicComment;
 use App\Models\Game;
 use App\Models\User;
+use App\Policies\ForumTopicCommentPolicy;
 use App\Support\Shortcode\Shortcode;
 use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
 
@@ -205,20 +206,25 @@ function submitTopicComment(
         return $latestPost;
     }
 
+    $topic = ForumTopic::findOrFail($topicId);
+
+    // Comments by an effective author who satisfies the topic's role
+    // whitelist are trusted & auto-authorized.
+    $isAuthorized = ($user->ManuallyVerified ?? false)
+        || (new ForumTopicCommentPolicy())->matchesCommentRoleAllowlist($user, $topic);
+
     $newComment = new ForumTopicComment([
         'forum_topic_id' => $topicId,
         'body' => $commentPayload,
         'author_id' => $user->id,
         'sent_by_id' => $sentByUser?->id,
-        'is_authorized' => $user->ManuallyVerified ?? false,
+        'is_authorized' => $isAuthorized,
     ]);
     $newComment->save();
 
-    $topic = ForumTopic::find($topicId);
-
     setLatestCommentInForumTopic($topic, $newComment->id);
 
-    if ($user->ManuallyVerified ?? false) {
+    if ($isAuthorized) {
         // if user has any notifications pending for this post, assume they're no longer needed
         $notificationService = new SubscriptionNotificationService();
         $notificationService->resetNotification($user->id, SubscriptionSubjectType::ForumTopic, $topic->id);
diff --git a/app/Models/ForumTopic.php b/app/Models/ForumTopic.php
index 2a56f77ff1..8ef768c9b1 100644
--- a/app/Models/ForumTopic.php
+++ b/app/Models/ForumTopic.php
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ protected static function boot(): void
         'author_id',
         'latest_comment_id',
         'required_permissions',
+        'comment_role_id',
         'pinned_at',
         'locked_at',
     ];
diff --git a/app/Policies/ForumTopicCommentPolicy.php b/app/Policies/ForumTopicCommentPolicy.php
index d5026d0f76..eea23ec611 100644
--- a/app/Policies/ForumTopicCommentPolicy.php
+++ b/app/Policies/ForumTopicCommentPolicy.php
@@ -49,26 +49,43 @@ public function view(?User $user, ForumTopicComment $comment): bool
         return false;
     }
 
+    public function viewUserPosts(User $currentUser, User $targetUser): bool
+    {
+        return !$targetUser->isBlocking($currentUser);
+    }
+
     public function create(User $user, ForumTopic $topic, ?User $teamAccount = null): bool
     {
+        if ($user->isMuted()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         // Users are able to create forum topic replies on behalf of team accounts,
         // assuming the correct role is attached to the user.
         if ($teamAccount) {
-            return $this->canActAsTeamAccount($user, $teamAccount);
-        }
+            if (!$this->canActAsTeamAccount($user, $teamAccount)) {
+                return false;
+            }
 
-        /*
-         * verified and unverified users may comment
-         * muted, suspended, banned may not comment
-         */
-        if ($user->isMuted()) {
-            return false;
+            // A topic lock still applies, even when posting on behalf of a team account.
+            if ($topic->is_locked && !$user->can('lock', $topic)) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            // When a comment role allowlist exists for the topic, it must be satisfied
+            // by the effective author (the team account, since that's whose name will
+            // appear on the comment).
+            if ($topic->comment_role_id !== null
+                && !$this->matchesCommentRoleAllowlist($teamAccount, $topic)
+            ) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return true;
         }
 
-        /*
-         * users may not reply to locked topics, unless they have
-         * the ability to lock/unlock topics themselves.
-         */
+        // Users may not reply to locked topics, unless they have
+        // the ability to lock/unlock topics themselves.
         if ($topic->is_locked && !$user->can('lock', $topic)) {
             return false;
         }
@@ -77,6 +94,16 @@ public function create(User $user, ForumTopic $topic, ?User $teamAccount = null)
             return false;
         }
 
+        // A topic with a comment-role allowlist only accepts
+        // replies from users in those roles.
+        if ($topic->comment_role_id !== null) {
+            if ($this->manage($user)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            return $this->matchesCommentRoleAllowlist($user, $topic);
+        }
+
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -135,8 +162,12 @@ public function forceDelete(User $user, ForumTopicComment $comment): bool
         return false;
     }
 
-    public function viewUserPosts(User $currentUser, User $targetUser): bool
+    public function matchesCommentRoleAllowlist(User $user, ForumTopic $topic): bool
     {
-        return !$targetUser->isBlocking($currentUser);
+        if ($topic->comment_role_id === null) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        return $user->roles->contains('id', $topic->comment_role_id);
     }
 }
diff --git a/database/migrations/2026_05_12_000000_add_comment_role_id_to_forum_topics_table.php b/database/migrations/2026_05_12_000000_add_comment_role_id_to_forum_topics_table.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b61ae8bd7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/database/migrations/2026_05_12_000000_add_comment_role_id_to_forum_topics_table.php
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+
+return new class extends Migration {
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('forum_topics', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->unsignedBigInteger('comment_role_id')->nullable()->after('required_permissions');
+
+            $table->foreign('comment_role_id')
+                ->references('id')
+                ->on('auth_roles')
+                ->onDelete('set null');
+        });
+    }
+
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('forum_topics', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->dropForeign(['comment_role_id']);
+            $table->dropColumn('comment_role_id');
+        });
+    }
+};
diff --git a/resources/js/features/forums/components/QuickReplyForm/QuickReplyForm.test.tsx b/resources/js/features/forums/components/QuickReplyForm/QuickReplyForm.test.tsx
index a6e59dc592..ce77b56d56 100644
--- a/resources/js/features/forums/components/QuickReplyForm/QuickReplyForm.test.tsx
+++ b/resources/js/features/forums/components/QuickReplyForm/QuickReplyForm.test.tsx
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ describe('Component: QuickReplyForm', () => {
       pageProps: {
         auth: { user: createAuthenticatedUser() },
         forumTopic: createForumTopic(),
-        accessibleTeamAccounts: [teamAccount1, teamAccount2], // !!
+        replyableTeamAccounts: [teamAccount1, teamAccount2], // !!
       },
     });
 
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ describe('Component: QuickReplyForm', () => {
       pageProps: {
         auth: { user: createAuthenticatedUser() },
         forumTopic: createForumTopic(),
-        accessibleTeamAccounts: null, // !!
+        replyableTeamAccounts: null, // !!
       },
     });
 
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ describe('Component: QuickReplyForm', () => {
       pageProps: {
         auth: { user },
         forumTopic: createForumTopic(),
-        accessibleTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
+        replyableTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
       },
     });
 
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ describe('Component: QuickReplyForm', () => {
       pageProps: {
         auth: { user },
         forumTopic: createForumTopic(),
-        accessibleTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
+        replyableTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
       },
     });
 
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ describe('Component: QuickReplyForm', () => {
       pageProps: {
         auth: { user },
         forumTopic: createForumTopic(),
-        accessibleTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
+        replyableTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
       },
     });
 
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ describe('Component: QuickReplyForm', () => {
       pageProps: {
         auth: { user: createAuthenticatedUser() },
         forumTopic: topic,
-        accessibleTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
+        replyableTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
       },
     });
 
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ describe('Component: QuickReplyForm', () => {
       pageProps: {
         auth: { user: createAuthenticatedUser() },
         forumTopic: topic,
-        accessibleTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
+        replyableTeamAccounts: [teamAccount], // !!
       },
     });
 
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ describe('Component: QuickReplyForm', () => {
       pageProps: {
         auth: { user: createAuthenticatedUser({ displayName: 'Scott' }) },
         forumTopic: createForumTopic(),
-        accessibleTeamAccounts: [teamAccount1, teamAccount2, teamAccount3], // !! unsorted
+        replyableTeamAccounts: [teamAccount1, teamAccount2, teamAccount3], // !! unsorted
       },
     });
 
diff --git a/resources/js/features/forums/components/QuickReplyForm/QuickReplyForm.tsx b/resources/js/features/forums/components/QuickReplyForm/QuickReplyForm.tsx
index 8d06607a54..d48ab377e4 100644
--- a/resources/js/features/forums/components/QuickReplyForm/QuickReplyForm.tsx
+++ b/resources/js/features/forums/components/QuickReplyForm/QuickReplyForm.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ interface QuickReplyFormProps {
 }
 
 export const QuickReplyForm: FC<QuickReplyFormProps> = ({ onPreview }) => {
-  const { auth, forumTopic, accessibleTeamAccounts } =
+  const { auth, forumTopic, replyableTeamAccounts } =
     usePageProps<App.Data.ShowForumTopicPageProps>();
 
   const { t } = useTranslation();
@@ -41,13 +41,13 @@ export const QuickReplyForm: FC<QuickReplyFormProps> = ({ onPreview }) => {
 
   const watchedPostAsUser =
     watchedPostAsUserId !== 'self'
-      ? accessibleTeamAccounts?.find((ta) => ta.id === Number(watchedPostAsUserId))
+      ? replyableTeamAccounts?.find((ta) => ta.id === Number(watchedPostAsUserId))
       : null;
 
   // Sort team accounts alphabetically by display name.
-  const sortedTeamAccounts = accessibleTeamAccounts
-    ? [...accessibleTeamAccounts].sort((a, b) => a.displayName.localeCompare(b.displayName))
-    : null;
+  const sortedTeamAccounts = (replyableTeamAccounts ?? [])
+    .slice()
+    .sort((a, b) => a.displayName.localeCompare(b.displayName));
 
   const formRef = useRef<HTMLFormElement>(null);
   useSubmitOnMetaEnter({
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export const QuickReplyForm: FC<QuickReplyFormProps> = ({ onPreview }) => {
           <div className="flex w-full flex-col gap-2 lg:flex-row lg:justify-between lg:gap-5">
             <ShortcodePanel className="p-0" />
 
-            {sortedTeamAccounts?.length ? (
+            {sortedTeamAccounts.length ? (
               <BaseFormField
                 control={form.control}
                 name="postAsUserId"
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ export const QuickReplyForm: FC<QuickReplyFormProps> = ({ onPreview }) => {
                     />
                   ) : null}
 
-                  {!watchedPostAsUser && accessibleTeamAccounts?.length ? (
+                  {!watchedPostAsUser && replyableTeamAccounts?.length ? (
                     <img
                       src={auth.user.avatarUrl}
                       alt={auth.user.displayName}
diff --git a/resources/js/types/generated.d.ts b/resources/js/types/generated.d.ts
index 560b551308..e68b0bba26 100644
--- a/resources/js/types/generated.d.ts
+++ b/resources/js/types/generated.d.ts
@@ -344,6 +344,7 @@ isSubscribed: boolean;
 paginatedForumTopicComments: App.Data.PaginatedData<TItems>;
 metaDescription: string;
 accessibleTeamAccounts: Array<App.Data.User> | null;
+replyableTeamAccounts: Array<App.Data.User> | null;
 };
 export type StaticData = {
 numGames: number;
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Community/Controllers/Api/ForumTopicCommentApiControllerTest.php b/tests/Feature/Community/Controllers/Api/ForumTopicCommentApiControllerTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..86a0d9d638
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/Community/Controllers/Api/ForumTopicCommentApiControllerTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+use App\Models\ForumTopic;
+use App\Models\Role;
+use App\Models\User;
+use Database\Seeders\RolesTableSeeder;
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
+
+use function Pest\Laravel\actingAs;
+use function Pest\Laravel\assertDatabaseHas;
+use function Pest\Laravel\postJson;
+use function Pest\Laravel\seed;
+
+uses(RefreshDatabase::class);
+
+beforeEach(function () {
+    seed(RolesTableSeeder::class);
+});
+
+it('given a regular user posts on a restricted topic, returns a 403', function () {
+    // ARRANGE
+    $regularUser = User::factory()->create(['email_verified_at' => now()]);
+    actingAs($regularUser);
+
+    $topic = ForumTopic::factory()->create([
+        'comment_role_id' => Role::findByName(Role::SET_DESIGNER)->id,
+    ]);
+
+    // ACT
+    $response = postJson(
+        route('api.forum-topic-comment.create', ['topic' => $topic]),
+        ['body' => 'hello world'],
+    );
+
+    // ASSERT
+    $response->assertForbidden();
+});
+
+it('given a post is attributed to a whitelisted team account, succeeds and auto-authorizes the comment', function () {
+    // ARRANGE
+    $setDesigner = User::factory()->create(['email_verified_at' => now()]);
+    $setDesigner->assignRole(Role::SET_DESIGNER);
+    actingAs($setDesigner);
+
+    $setDesignersAccount = User::factory()->create([
+        'username' => 'SetDesigners',
+        'ManuallyVerified' => false,
+    ]);
+    $setDesignersAccount->assignRole(Role::SET_DESIGNER);
+
+    $topic = ForumTopic::factory()->create([
+        'comment_role_id' => Role::findByName(Role::SET_DESIGNER)->id,
+    ]);
+
+    // ACT
+    $response = postJson(
+        route('api.forum-topic-comment.create', ['topic' => $topic]),
+        ['body' => 'announcement', 'postAsUserId' => (string) $setDesignersAccount->id],
+    );
+
+    // ASSERT
+    $response->assertOk();
+    $response->assertJson(['success' => true]);
+
+    assertDatabaseHas('forum_topic_comments', [
+        'forum_topic_id' => $topic->id,
+        'author_id' => $setDesignersAccount->id,
+        'sent_by_id' => $setDesigner->id,
+        'is_authorized' => 1, // !!
+    ]);
+});
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Community/Controllers/ForumTopicControllerTest.php b/tests/Feature/Community/Controllers/ForumTopicControllerTest.php
index 34e115441f..9769e6c2fa 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Community/Controllers/ForumTopicControllerTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Community/Controllers/ForumTopicControllerTest.php
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
 use App\Models\ForumCategory;
 use App\Models\ForumTopic;
 use App\Models\ForumTopicComment;
+use App\Models\Role;
 use App\Models\User;
+use Database\Seeders\RolesTableSeeder;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
 use Inertia\Testing\AssertableInertia as Assert;
 use Tests\TestCase;
@@ -117,4 +119,39 @@ public function testShowDisplaysTopicForAuthorizedUsers(): void
             ->has('paginatedForumTopicComments')
         );
     }
+
+    public function testShowIncludesSentByForHistoricalTeamAccountPosts(): void
+    {
+        // Arrange
+        $this->seed(RolesTableSeeder::class);
+
+        $admin = User::factory()->create([
+            'preferences_bitfield' => 63,
+            'unread_messages' => 0,
+            'email_verified_at' => now(),
+        ]);
+        $admin->assignRole(Role::ADMINISTRATOR);
+
+        $radminAccount = User::factory()->create(['username' => 'RAdmin']);
+        $originalAuthor = User::factory()->create();
+
+        $topic = ForumTopic::factory()->create(['required_permissions' => 0]);
+
+        ForumTopicComment::factory()->create([
+            'forum_topic_id' => $topic->id,
+            'author_id' => $radminAccount->id,
+            'sent_by_id' => $originalAuthor->id,
+            'is_authorized' => true,
+        ]);
+
+        // Act
+        $response = $this->actingAs($admin)->get(route('forum-topic.show', $topic));
+
+        // Assert
+        $response->assertOk();
+        $response->assertInertia(fn (Assert $page) => $page
+            ->has('paginatedForumTopicComments.items.0.sentBy')
+            ->where('paginatedForumTopicComments.items.0.sentBy.displayName', $originalAuthor->display_name)
+        );
+    }
 }