I should clarify that there are 3 types of npcs in the game. Generic (unnamed), Persistant (named), and Unique (currently only Quincy, Boston, and the landlord). I do intend for some unique npcs to have more of a story focus, while others would be more mechanically unique, like a bully or border guard.
Children would definitely need to be removed from the game loop somehow. A governing body taking them fits with the world I want to build, but I think it would be fun to have different options depending on character origins, like sending them to family. In any case, they would never be created as an in-game entity, for reasons I hope are obvious. Could maybe be a fun new game plus option to take them over on their 18th birthday, but that's thinking way too far ahead.
I do want to make a "follow me" command for high friendship npcs. I'll hopefully be able to iron out bugs with Cross-map navigation in that process.
I think I played bdcc briefly back when it first came out. The posable paperdoll was an interesting take on things. I can do at least a portion of the art myself, (I used to do fan-art under a different name in the DoL community), but I have zero history in animation. Constantly switching between art and code completely kills my workflow though, so I definitely wouldn't be against accepting help from a community. I would just want a relatively consistent art style, and some reassurance that ai was not used