Third: it seems that speed items do not stack. i bought some boots and an anklet and my speed did not increase to 25% higher, but stayed right on 10%. is it supposed to be like this?
That's strange. Regularly, Speed items do, in fact, stack. I know because whenever I get to an endgame scenario with the Rook, I pile on heaps of +Speed gear to make one ridiculously swift stone behemoth... But I don't often use the Swift Anklet favour item though, so perhaps the problem lies there?
EDIT: I just went off to test Boots of Speed + Anklet combo, and they seemed to stack together alright for me whilst playing as Regulus, at least.