The chat messages can now be reformatted to your liking.
Edit the config.ini file to make these changes. You can also change most of the colors (not player name colors, yet, though).

Here are the sections and the syntax with default values:

[chatformat]
server=*** <msg>
msgincoming=*<cname>* <msg>
msgoutgoing=-><name>: <msg>
serverchannel=*** <msg>
serverchannelactive=*** <msg>
channelemote=[<channelid>] <cname> <msg>
channel=[<channelid>] <<cname>> <msg>
activechannelemote=[<channelid>] <cname> <msg>
activechannel=[<channelid>] <<cname>> <msg>
sectoremote=<cname> <msg>
sector=<<cname>> <msg>
globalserver=*** <msg>
nation=*** <msg>
guildserver=(guild) <msg>
guildemote=(guild) [<location>] <cname> <msg>
guild=(guild) [<location>] <<cname>> <msg>
guildmotd=[Guild MOTD] <msg>
guide=*<name>* <msg>
group=(group) [<location>] <<cname>> <msg>
help=[<location>] <<cname>> <msg>
bar=<<cname>> <msg>
bar1=<<cname>> <msg>
bar2=<<cname>> <msg>
bar3=<<cname>> <msg>
baremote=<cname> <msg>
baremote1=<cname> <msg>
baremote2=<cname> <msg>
baremote3=<cname> <msg>
outgoingbuddynote=-><name>: <msg>

[colors]
chatcolors.buddynote=80ff80
chatcolors.msgoutgoing=80ff80
chatcolors.msgincoming=ff0000
chatcolors.barlist=ffffff
chatcolors.barenter=ffffff
chatcolors.barleave=ffffff
chatcolors.bar=ffffff
chatcolors.bar1=6080ff
chatcolors.bar2=ff2020
chatcolors.bar3=C0C000
chatcolors.sector=00ff00
chatcolors.mission=00ff00
chatcolors.guild=ffb935
chatcolors.nation=40ffff
chatcolors.guide=ffffff
chatcolors.group=ffff00
chatcolors.system=ff00ff
chatcolors.sd=00ffff
chatcolors.activechannel=28b4f0
chatcolors.inactivechannel=0050f0

I hope it's pretty self-explanatory and I know the two sections aren't very consistent.

<msg> = actual message, always present
<name> = uncolored player name if there is one
<cname> = player name colored with faction color if there is a name
<factionname> = short faction name if there is one
<factionnamefull> = full faction name if there is one
<location> = short location name, like 'Edras A1' if there is one
<channelid> = channel number if there is one

If you specify a type that isn't there, there's no guarantee that it will work. It may show up as 'nil' or it may generate a lua error. Use at your own risk.

that's nifty

would it be possible to load a config file with a skin? For example a colors.ini within the skin dir that only contains the colors and chatformat sections.

Kewl.

Brilliant

mr_spuck: hmm that's an idea. I'll see how to fit that in. Maybe add settings into the wgaf.cfg to load a special file. But actually, I don't think I'll do that because our goal is to expose the entire interface to modding.

I guess that's even better.

allowing modding of the colors in the wgaf.cfg would go pretty far toward giving us some more customizability. I for one would love to be able to /load color schemes without leaving the client, and it would also be far more efficient than a batch file or DIY instructions at changing colors with skins. In fact, it would be nice to wgaf the skins as well....

By the way... while modding chat colors is nice, how long before we have a way to mod the HUD text colors? (or better still, if there is already, can you tell us what it is?)

Heh, yeah. one step at a time, though.

I've only tried this with the chatformat, but if you modify it while ingame and save config.ini, you can open the console and type /lua ReloadInterface() to get around having to relaunch the client every time you change something.