Default Message icon for first message only??
 

I didn't see a general How Do I forum, so I thought that this would go here... If it doesn't, I'll gladly close it and reopen it somewhere else.

I believe what I'm looking for requires a hack - here's what I want:

When a user starts a new thread (and only when a new thread is started), if the user doesn't select a message icon, it defaults to one. If I use the vB option to turn on default message icon, it assigns an icon to EVERY post without one. I only want one to be assigned to the first message in the thread (so that the thread view doesn't have gaps in it).

Is there an existing hack which does this? Or is it part of a hack package? If so, please point me in the proper direction. If not, does anyone know how to do what I'm referring to?

You basically want to break the first post from the others so you can edit the rest of posts individually.
So in the first post you will have a setting and the rest of the posts another one.
Using 2 templates will allow you to use it the way you want.. Check FireFly's profile for the hack. :)

I just want to double check that you're understanding what I want. The pic below illustrates where I want the default icon to appear. And the post below this one, contains an image of what I'm trying to avoid happening.

And this pic is what happens when I turn on the Admin CP option for a default message icon. NOTE: The is before installing any hacks and this would NOT be the desired result. I want it to put an icon on the thread view in the pic above this one. But I do not want it to put in a default icon for EVERY post as illustrated in the pic attached to this post.

I found the answer guys... so don't tear your hair out... thanks for all your help