I'm in my first NG+ and I need some help from the veterans . First, do characters I have carried over from my first game count as having joined for the route conditions even if I haven't "officially" recruited them (story-wise)? Second, when you accept the chisel quest which apparently chooses which route you will be on, is the heroine that talks to the kid the one whose route you will end up in, or is it always Yuela?

It's always Yuela that talks to the kid.

And if the character is listed as "Clone", he doesn't count as recruited for specific event requirements.

The only exception I can see is for events that require "all units", if you have a clone working as shopkeeper, it won't let you continue...

Okay, thank you very much!!