I'm trying to create a section on a website using Wordpress that needs to show different posts based on the user's role (which needs to be a custom role).

 

What's the best way of doing this? I don't mind using plugins or anything like that but the simplest way would be best.

 

The site area just needs to see if the user is logged in (if not, just show the public posts), if they're staff, then show extra staff posts etc.

I'm unsure if there is a plugin for this.

 

But, you could create a custom page that checks the Database to see if the user has the privileges and authority to view said posts. From your description these posts would be secure so not able to be seen by the public so you would possibly need a way of deciding which post to show to who

Sounds like you could use a membership plugin, I dont think you need one of the big paid for ones.

 

Try one of these:

http://wdf.co/jo

http://wdf.co/jp

There are quite a few plugins that do this quite well (Members by Justin Tadlock is a good one). Otherwise you can create user roles and capabilities fairly easily. Here is one article on it http://wp.tutsplus.com/tutorials/creative-coding/wordpress-roles-and-capabilities-functions-of-note/ but there are quite a few to choose from.