Does this game have random elements in it?

[king size carl]

Are there different people every time you start over?

[audax_powder]

I was wondering about this too. So far I've only started the game twice (I haven't finished either save) but it looked like some things are randomized, but most things are set/defined. Different playthroughs might be the most interesting for you making different choices and being better at the overall game.

[Oddbrother]

Sometimes, the people who bring up particular conversations may or may not have discrepancies in their papers.

Other unimportant people will have different names and stats.

The people related most importantly to the plotline of the campaign or side mission will never have their names changed.

[concatenation]

I read earlier today that certain people will always appear at certain points but their appearance will be different each time.

[Deon]

It's as Oddbrother said. To be more specific there are some each day that are scripted, with various small amounts of randomness in the details.

For example, on Day 2 the first entrant is a foreigner with valid papers, the second entrant has an expired Antegrian passport, the fourth entrant is the "impatient" one (can be valid or invalid), and the sixth entrant gives you a Pink Vice card and has valid papers. They can have different names and appearances but these factors are set.

There are also some major characters that are entirely scripted on every playthrough. All others are completely randomized. If you process 20 people a day maybe 60-75% of them are entirely random.