Yes — gold is always five tokens at every player count. "Don't touch the gold" in the 2 and 3 player setup means only the gem stacks shrink (to 4 each for two players, 5 each for three).
By the rulebook, yes: the youngest player begins and play goes clockwise. Nothing else in the game depends on who starts, and many groups simply pick a starting player any agreed way.
Yes — a bought or reserved face-up card is replaced at once from the deck of the same level. If that deck is empty the space stays empty, and you can still buy or reserve the cards that remain.
No — you must take three different colours if three are available. You may take fewer only when fewer than three colours remain in the supply, in which case you take what is left. An older FAQ wording allowing fewer at any time is obsolete.
Yes — the four-token requirement is checked before you take, so four in the stack lets you take two, leaving two. That is why two-player games, which start with four per colour, allow it. With fewer than four, you cannot.
The limit is checked only at the end of your turn. You can exceed it during the turn, then return tokens down to 10 — any you hold, including ones just taken, and gold counts.
You may pass, but only if no action is possible (no gems you can take, three cards reserved and nothing affordable), and you should show your hand to prove it. Otherwise you must take an action, even if that means taking gems and returning them.
Cards reserved blind from a deck are clearly hidden. For face-up cards the rulebook only says reserved cards are kept in hand; most players read that as hidden too, but some tables keep them face up, so agree it before playing.
Any card — gold is a joker that can replace any colour, and it is not tied to the card that gave it. It cannot be spent the same turn you receive it, because reserving ends your turn.
No — unbought reserved cards cost nothing at game end and have no deadline, apart from occupying one of your three slots. Reserved cards give no bonuses until bought.
Gold counts toward the 10-token limit, so you may have to return a token (even the gold) at end of turn. Whether you may decline the gold is disputed: one poster says you must take it if any is left, another says it is optional, and the rulebook doesn't say.
Yes — bonuses reduce the cost first and you pay only the remainder in tokens; a card can even cost nothing. Paying extra tokens instead of using discounts isn't allowed.
Yes — any number of gold tokens can pay for one card, and you choose which token to spend when you have a matching gem. Spent tokens, gold included, return to the supply.
The current round is finished so every player has had the same number of turns, then the highest score wins. If the last player in turn order reaches 15, the game ends right after that turn.
There's no official ruling; the winner is whoever leads at the end of the round in which 15 was reached, so the group must decide how to handle a missed announcement.
There is no reset rule in the rulebook. Players say to simply play on as usual; reserving a card (including blind from a deck) is the way a display changes. If nobody wants to continue, stopping is up to the group.
When any player takes a city tile, the current round is completed so everyone has the same number of turns. The winner is the player with the most points among those who took a city. Under the current rules several players can claim the same city.
Yes — once you have the bonus, each gold counts as two gems of one colour when buying, and you may overpay. It still counts as one token for the limit, and it applies only when buying.
You place at most one coat of arms per trading post. Once you have the power from the 3-black-bonus trading post, each coat of arms you have placed is worth 1 prestige point.
After any action, including reserving or taking gems. With all three strongholds on a card you may buy it in addition, and you may do so before returning excess tokens. The same cards' gems serve both purchases.
A wild or pouch counts as one bonus of its colour, including for nobles and for discarding bonuses on level 3 cards; it duplicates only the bonus, not prestige. Pouches of the needed colour must be discarded first.
