[Brad]

Basic idea to implement this feature;

1) Add one query to showthread.php to fetch the first posts data.

This would be a simple plug-in with a simple SQL statement. It will pull all needed information about the first post from the database based on postid. This information would then be used in a new template, and the showthread template would be modified to include it about the postbits.

2) Reversing post order;

Would be as simple as using the default option provided by vBulletin already.

3) Functionality needed in only certain forums;

As simple as adding a new option for each forum and a simple switch/if statement. Doing this is trivial.

So yes you're looking at a few new plug-ins, probably best supplied as a product file.