[sorkvir]

Presence should go up by one point per 7 parleys if you keep winning the parleys.

The trick I've found is to find 3~4 NPC's of the presence you want to increase in and that you know that you can beat that are in the same area and rotate through them.

Yes, its tedious.

I do believe that equipment is the best way to go. I'd check the broker and look for inexpensive presence items there.