1. Those are needed and the patches for Black & white.
2. You can.
3. I don't think so.
4. Yepp.
5. You have to tell it to the other god(s) and you have to keep your creature's distance from the other god(s) villages or they will maybe attack your creature or even your village(s).
6. Not...
If you want a quick learner but good mooded creature than I say you should pick the zebra.
My zebra learns quickly but still can kick some enemy creature's butt if you fighting for a village.