Hey Chellez, thanks for the kind comments and glad you're enjoying it so far just solo. I have to adjust the single player goal though. Here's some clarification I hope helps!
1. no, just 1 point per item, no points for spaces taken up.
2. Identical items have to touch side by side to get the bonus point. Think of it like packing similar things together, its more efficient! ;)
3. Good catch.... Skulls add +1 instead of deducting 1, so that's a difference of 2 points. But broken swords deduct 1 point, so that should be a total of -2. I will word that differently!
4. Tenderfoot's points work for just having them in your bag, the set of 3 don't have to be grouped or touching. You don't deduct any points for these. Again, I may reword this more clearly.
BGG page is in approval process :)
Cheers, Jon