[Graeme]

Try editing topic.php in the default template and replace:

<?php post_form(); ?>

with:

<?php post_form('Reply to this topic:'); ?>

This is a simple way to make the change you want.

Note that rather than editing the default template, you can make use of the powerful templating behaviour of bbPress if you create your own theme. With custom themes, bbPress will always pick up missing template files from the default kakumei theme! That means custom themes can be quite simple!

1. Create a directory called my-templates.
2. Create a directory in that directory called myfirsttheme.
3. Copy style.css, screenshot.png and topic.php from bb-templates/kakumei to your my-templates/myfirsttheme directory.
4. Edit my-templates/myfirsttheme/style.css and change:

   Theme Name: Kakumei

   to

   Theme Name: myfirsttheme

5. Change my-templates/myfirsttheme/topic.php with the change described above to topic.php.
6. At this point you should see your own custom template in the admin backend.

That allows you to setup your own theme. Then when new versions of bbPress come along you may not have to reedit the default templates – just copy your custom theme into the new/upgraded bbPress installation.

I hope that makes sense.

Note:

Sometimes new functionality in bbPress will mean that it is best to copy the default template files and re-apply your changes in your custom theme.