1. Any, but neutral tends to be the most widely liked. I think people like having beast call and feral rage a lot.

2. NO COINS! But really if you use some early on it's no big deal. Some people use the transaction from a civillized to non in their role. Not everyone is born an outlander. But once you get serious about it then yes you need to ditch coins completely and stop bartering with city merchants(though some might argue that). You can barter almost anything for food, it's really easy once you get the hang of it. Also there's unlimited bread in a basket in the goblin place above the violet woodlands.

3. Farmable teleport potions in galadon sewer(shimmering blue potion) you'll need water breathing to get and in a desk 1 floor up in High Tower of Sorcery is green potion for teleport. I think it's okay to barter for return potions in HToS as well, but don't barter with the talisman mob there, it's a necro. Seriously pick up everything you see and barter with it. There's often stuff on eastern road from criminals walking down killing the guards. Lots of places people level that leave gear on the ground like monks monastery or azurmaine mages.

Outlander is freakin' awesome. You can kill your cabalmates if they piss you off. ;) Some people disagree with this, but IMO once you get the hang of the no coins and no city merchants it gets really easy. Remember the flickering gem in the campfire near woodelf place is worth a heal heal, and there ARE healers outside of cities, like the one in the weald. The bad "healing" potions from the mausoleum are worth a heal heal as well and very very light.

I almost forgot. I think if you pledge now you get the harvest skill so you don't have to worry as much about food. Not 100% sure but I think I recall things like that being added for pledges.