Definitely get a throne, penumbra, dramatics, perfumes, influencing beast, harmony karma, beauty karma, and lots and lots of jewelry( except for charity influences ).

I need to get an influencing beast, I've really been slacking on the "get a sleepcloud beast" and "get an influencing beast" fronts.

Working on getting a beast now Got myself some perfumes as well.

I didn't know perfumes existed. And "perfume" and "cologne" don't show up in the aethershops... what do they do and how do you get them?

Lorecrafters make them, 15 spices per vial. Dragonsblood boosts empower, Vanilla boosts weakening, Sandalwood boosts charity, Jasmine boosts paranoia, and Musk boosts seduction.

Lorecrafter make them and, depending on the type you apply, you get an influencing boost. The types which boost what are as follows:

Vanilla - Weaken
Dragonsblood - Empower
Jasmine - Paranoia
Sandalwood - Charity
Musk - Seduction

Well, I must admit, hearing about all the depth that's been put into Influence — the complementary Dramatics skill set, clothing that matters, perfumes, blessings, beasts, runes, and so on — has me a lot more interested in it than I was previously.

However, I'm left wondering whether it's really worth spending ~3,500 lessons on Influence and Dramatics (or less, I suppose, but ~1,750 in Influence as a baseline). Even if you do use it to hit Demigod, what practical use is it from then on? Hunting, at least, usually goes hand-in-hand with skill sets used for PK, and let's face it: By the time you've been playing Lusternia for three years, people expect you to be fairly competent at fighting. Even in the short two weeks I've been playing Lusternia and reading these forums, it's clear a few (relatively) new people have been Ascended due primarily to their combat prowess (and perhaps, secondarily, to quickly get them to Demigod).

I'm fine with that, but the point is, I could put lessons into, say, Alchemy instead of Influence (Philosopher Stone), Herbs (herb balance+), or just about anything that includes combat-orientated abilities.

So what benefits does Influence offer (not just in combat/PK, though that's my main concern)? Compared to bashing and PK, Influence is VERY poorly documented, as a system. Guild HELP scrolls seem to contain pages upon pages of info about getting curatives, vials, armor, weapons, robes, equipment, various abilities, and such and the like, but I see nothing about Influence.

Most quests require influencing.

Also, if you want to be able to gain XP quickly in shorter segments, it's great. I find it much easier to go influence for twenty or thirty minutes than it is to bash within the same amount of time. Less stressful sometimes, too.

Influencing is also a key aspect of revolts, a major conflict system.

So, it is a hunting alternative (simpler and easier in some ways, too), is needed for most quests, has RP value, affects conflicts in a unique way....

Sounds good enough to me. Tailoring probably technically has less value (almost purely for fun, and perhaps profit as well), though I love crafting skills myself.

Don't forget esteem! Esteem is a wonderful commodity for shrine battles. We get pretty good gold from it, too!

Is it possible to hunt as a Shadowcaster Faeling Druid? I dont have a cudgel yet. My willpower takes FOREVER to regenerate and as I see it, I have one of two options - Sit around and meditate for about an hour or try my hand at hunting. I have my Discipline up to Adept but I don't think this is helping too much...

Any advice?

1) Touching the chessboard in our Library will fully replenish your willpower. This can be done once a Lusternian month.
2) You can die in the Glomdoring's borders, conglutinate, and be fully restored.
3) Learn some discipline (probably not ideal)
4) Get someone to set up a campfire for you while you meditate.
5) Sit on a rocking chair.
6) Go to a room with a willpower regen artifact.
7) Combine 4, 5, and 6.

Combine hunting and influencing. While influencing, you barely lose any willpower (unless you have Charismatic Aura up, which takes a fair bit). When the willpower is back, go back to hunting.

Whoah deja vu!

EDIT: An Ebonguard novice asked a similar question about endurance and Xenthos gave pretty much the same response.

I sit with Charismatic Aura up 90% of the time because it really seems to help with influencing. Should I only use it sporadically?

I keep it permanently up and don't notice a drain to be worried about when I go influencing. What I used to do is bash my brains out, then when my willpower is dead, go influencing while it regenerates. Easy enough to do and I kept the experience going as I wanted.

Yeah I think I am going to have to go down this route as I'm not satisfied just waiting around on it regenerating enough to go influencing again. It just doesn't seem overly worthwhile influencing without Charismatic Aura now that I have it..

Places to hunt as a Faeling?

You're transcendant discipline, as am I.

It's a far different thing for someone who is inept; I would suggest not keeping up charismatic aura unless you're using it, if you're having willpower problems. Same with any other willpower draining skill.

^^

What he said. Adept discipline doesn't come close to covering charismatic aura.