So I'm interested in The Guild 2 & I'm wondering what to buy... I've read renaissance has all the content for the ase game but the impression I get from the GOG page is that each expansion builds on the base game.
Anyone able to give a definitive answer?

Guild 2 and expansions are standalone and don't need other versions to be installed. Renaissance has almost all the content of base game and expansions (iirc only tutorial and maybe some maps are missing) Only exception, for what ever reason, is Guild 2: Venice that's not sold on GOG or Steam (you can find it DRM-free at and [url=http://www.shinyloot.com/the-guild-2-venice]ShinyLoot though if you're interested). Venice, released between Pirates and Renaissance, added two professions (glazier and mercenary) as well as 1400 and 1600 versions of Venice and Trieste.

Renaissance also most up-to-date and most modded version available.

Thanks.