Using VB variables in custom php plugin possible?

[MajicPanda]

How would I do something like this in the plugin, unsure how to get user variables in the plugins.

PHP Code:

$var = fieldX; //fieldX = custom user profile field
for($i=0; $i < $var; $i++) {
      echo "<img src = 'image.jpg'>";
} 


This code gets the logged in users info, but how do you get the posters info related to that postbit section?

PHP Code:

$vigilanceXP = $vbulletin->userinfo[field5];

vB_Template::preRegister('postbit_legacy',array('vigilanceXP' => $vigilanceXP));