2 Questions of Ethics

[Seraph]

That would work, except that anyone who knows the game couldn't avoid (even subconsciously) choosing their path so as to bump into the NPCs they want just by "happenstance." I'd have to make a spinner that tells me which map area to go to next, and even then....do I bump into Viconia, Jan, or Kelsey?

I'm not sure how much I really agree with you, after all how much do you really chouse your path in the begining. You do the intro (3 NPCs there), you get out, you might to the optional quest and possibly gain an NPC, after that everyone and their mother tells you to go to the slums, in the slums your basically told what your first quest should be (where you'll probably come close to filling your party).