[the Sandman]

OK - I figured out how to modify the editpost template to remove the title field and message icon box when editing posts which are replies (not first posts). To do this simply use the conditional:

<if condition="$show['firstpostnote']">

I put it here:

 
<!-- subject field -->
<if condition="$show['firstpostnote']">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom:$stylevar[formspacer]px">
<tr>
<td class="smallfont" colspan="3">$vbphrase[title]:</td>
</tr>
<tr><td><input type="text" class="bginput" name="title" value="$title" size="50" maxlength="85" tabindex="1" title="$vbphrase[optional]" /></td>
<td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td><img id="display_posticon" src="$selectedicon[src]" alt="$selectedicon[alt]" /></td>
</tr>
</table>
</if>
<!-- / subject field -->

And here:

 
<if condition="$show['firstpostnote']">
$posticons
</if>

Works like a champ!