Well, Shadowsinger Faelings have a base of 17 Charisma, Demigod adds +1 to all stats (or so I've read), and you can get a maximum of +5 from weighted bonuses. That's 23 Charisma, without a Divine Favor.

Does Titan add +1 to certain (or all) stats, too? Or am I missing some other +1?

Yes, Titan adds +1 all around.

Yep. Titan gives +1 and Demigod gives another +1, thus +2. And that's base, so it doesn't count towards the maximum of +5 bonus.

Is there any kind of consensus on what base char value is "too low" to bother with influencing?

As a human, without any char boosts, and without trans influence I find it to take a crazy amount of time to influence things so I never bother. I also have not really planned to spend the lessons needed to trans influence as a result. I like the idea/rp of influencing though and so many quests require it that I am rethinking that choice.

Thanks for the very informative thread!

Pretty sure below 12 is a "don't really bother" thing; below 12 they will respond almost all the time. At 12, with a little lag they might a bit.

Atellus is a demi-human, so his cha base is decidedly not 12. Demi-human is good for influence, but really, cha-aura and other buffs make all the difference. Actual raw cha is more just for enduring the egos of higher level mobs more easily and getting a faster eq recovery on influencing.

EDIT: @Felicia, divine favours do not exceed the stat cap. They just add weight.

Eldanien's at 12 charisma + netzach, anguti, trans influence, and that combination is more than enough to influence for xp/gold/esteem gain. I don't even bother with Beauty karma blessing - I generally opt for Harmony instead. You get a few responses, but it's not that bad. I've been doing it for the last few weeks since my delevel thing, and probably accounts for half the xp Eldanien has.

The biggest boost there is Charismaticaura, which really is that awesome, though I do wind up using Perfection/Beauty enchantments, psionics ironwill and Harmony regeneration to offset the Charismaticaura upkeep.

My base Char is 15 now, I can't remember if I tried to influence after I hit demi or not but I just recall it taking forever when I tried to do the undervault quests. I might just have a warped perspective on how long it takes to win at pve "combat" though from being a monk with a crit rune.

I really wish the game formulas were published so a question like this would be easy to answer.

I'm an Elfen and I can reach 23 cha so the max of a Faeling with 24 sounds right.

Higher you are in influence the higher the attack strength.

Scroll of Healing and sparkleberries go along with the bromides in your General Equipment category, to regen ego.

Does some race have a racial ego regen?

The Scarecrow hat dingbat thing can help with adjusting clothing prestige for begging.

I did think of Sparkleberries and Healing Scrolls, but that's quite an expense to pay if you use them with any regularity, at least if you're circle 50-60 like I am. I hope to make money while hunting and influencing, not lose it!

Of course, that doesn't mean those things don't belong on the list, along with the blessed herb (usually Coltsfoot).

Felicia is a Faeling Harbinger with trans Shadowbeat, 912 Dramatics, and Vivace/Largo etchings on a bonded instrument. I'm completely spoiled by her Roulade, which now restores a ludicrous quantity of ego.

If you can't afford sparkleberries, try for coltsfoot. It's generally the target of the major Nature blessing, which makes it behave like sparkleberry when eaten (in addition to its usual effect). The blessing comes and goes though, so it's not 100% certain it will work at all times.

EDIT: Right now, for instance, it went into flux which means they won't work for a while.

Wow, I always turn off sparkleberry and scrolling when influencing. I only use them during revolts, or when I'm pushing myself to influence a tough mob.

I'll amend the first post to include everyone's suggestions this evening. (I prefer to do it in big chunks, rather than one suggestion at a time.)

The ultimate dream for a proper guide is not only to list everything related to influencing, but also to explain it in some detail and suggest various strategies. Whoever writes it (if anyone) will need a lot more personal experience with influencing than I have currently, though.

Not sure if this is weighted or not, and I could have just missed someone else mentioning it, but doesn't the Trans ecology skill give you a +1 to CHA if you're bonded to a certain animal type? Vixen is +1 and level 2 seduction and Widow is +1 and a poison resistance, I believe.

Also, BATHE FONT in Celest's nexus world

Being a member of a Great House increases something to do with influencing. Not sure what.

First post updated to include the vast majority of additional information, with the exception of all non-Charisma buff (but still influence-enhancing) abilities and scenarios, and probably a few other things. I'll work on that later.

This thread has been useful.