[Jen]

I do not believe that this hack has been done before (keyed off usergroup like this).

I searched the forums extensively before I wrote it, I found some similar, but none that did exactly what I was trying to do: Assign a custom title to each user within a specific user group and still keep the posters standard post count based user title. I suppose it could have been done (as has been done previously) with a 'hidden' user profile field that the admin sets, but I didn't want the hastle of setting this user field and like the ability to see who my contributing members are (and at what level) based on their usergroup.

My reason for needing this was to implement my paid membership system which has 5 different levels above standard member (Contributor, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) each based on the amount of $ sent in by the user and each getting a custom 'group' title in addition to their normal user title. The entire system is automated so all I have to do is enter the funds as they are received and the rest is handled within my membership system / vBulletin. The custom status is assigned as soon as the member is switched to a contributor user group.

And for those wondering, yes, I have a fully working and operational membership system tied into vB that tracks money sent in, expiration dates, totals, membership status, limits avatar dimensions and display based on usergroup (another reason for this hack), the whole nine yards, and it's completely automated once I enter the funds into the system. It took three existing hacks, this hack and two other hacks I wrote but have not yet published to create.