Best way to get favours: village influence. If you take a guild with Rituals, just follow some big guy from your city and chant puella at them when they are influencing or debating. Otherwise, just run around and try to help - but make sure others know you are there, so you won't get missed.
And read the help files about villages before one comes into play, most people get very snappy when you ask them how can you help when they're busy coordinating influences of 10+ mobs and fending off other cities at the same time.

Ok, guy who started this thread, this is for you, it's what I say in all the 'I'm new' threads:

The following list contains all you need to know about Lusternia:
1. Don't snuggle Arix.
2. Don't judge people based on what city or commune they are from.
3. Trader Bob is the spawn of Kethuru and you should get your potions from other people.
4. Scholars and pilgrims are a reliable source of income and karma, as are the supplicants, if you choose Celest.
5. Don't poke Arix.
6.Don't poke Munsia, or refer to her as a cow, unless you have a deathwish, or can run really fast.
7.Verithrax is a reliable sources of clothing, greatrobes, and mostly intelligent conversation.
8.Don't bother Arix, unless you are starving, you need booze, or you know a dirty joke, limerick, or haiku that I haven't heard yet.
9.Trill kick ass. And now we can PREEN
10.Fluffy kittens are evil. Evil, I tells ya.

I think I've narrowed down the decision between Celest and Magnagora, leaning toward Magnagora as I'm feeling rather tired of playing good characters.

Glomdoring, though also looks interesting.

Thoughts on these 3 cities/commune?

Celest will give you the most political intrigue at this moment.

Glomdoring will give you the most RP at this moment.

Magnagora will give you the most combat at this moment.

Addendum: each of these depends on exactly what time you tend to log on (and duration).

I'd have to suggest Glomdoring. It has a bit of really nice people there.

Not now that I'm gone...

And yes, Daganev's description is mostly accurate, although you'll find all three things in all organizations. It really comes down to what kind of character you want to play, which organization has the people you get along with, and what kind of combat you're interested with - in that order. And if you feel like playing a pacifist, Tzekelkan and I are always helpful (Although Tzekelkan is a nice guy, and I play an evil manipulating bastard who'll drag his followers with him to accomplish his objective - Peace in the Basin during our lifetime, preferably with Verithrax as the emperor or some eminence gris behind him). If you want to be a fighter, nearly all guilds have people who'll be more than happy with that, usually your guild Champion. If you're into politics, start out by taking over your guild from the inside.

And don't trust what is said on the forums - Some people say Lusternia has no roleplay, but I and a lot of people have been consistently proving them wrong.

I came from Achaea, initially during open beta as a Magnagoran, but returned again a few months later with the opening of Glomdoring. Haven't been back to Achaea since! Glomdoring RP is a blast, the small player base keeps things interesting, and the Admins here are -fabulous-.

I'm biased, but if you want interesting RP and a place where you'll be immersed fast, give Glomdoring a shot. But be warned--not for the easily frustrated or anyone who hates being the underdog!

Join Celest. Help lay the smackdown on those ugly tainted.

Actually join Serenwilde. It's a party there 24/7.

If you go evil, join the d'Illici family. Our hood is the south and our homies can beat up everyone. Yo.

You really are desperate aren't you

No city/commune is really better than the other, because what works for me may not work for Shayle may not work for Verithrax may not work for Murphy may not work for you, and it goes on and on. Look into each carefully before deciding on one.

I'm from Achaea, and I found Lusternia to be alot better. I was only a level 52 grook magi in Achaea, without much potentail to be anything. I spend more time here because there's more RP, and I like the combat system alot more. To me, Lusternia offers everything that I found in Old Achaea.

Yeah, me too. In my opinion, Achaea's gone way downhill since back then. Autoclass... *shudder*

I never liked Acheae, some of the guilds there were too elitest (which I think may have caused the idea of autoclass, which technically we do have here, but isn't supported for rouges, which is what I'm assuming Vix's problem with autoclass is)

Magnagora! I've got viscanti shaped cookies

Dun dizz. You dun wanna get in tha way of tha family.

I don't understand Most RP.

Everyone should be rping all the time. If you are breathing there you are role playing. I think what you mean to say will bring you the most interesting situations, or interactions. All the organizations should have rp to immerse yourself into.