Yes, MacGuffins are essential to the genre I guess - Hellmaster's Jar, Sword of Light etc.

For random events, the things that strike me relate to the inevitable plot misdirection that is so characteristic of this type of anime:

1. The NPC hero is actually a villain.
2. The villain is actually your long lost sister!
3. The MacGuffin is actually an evil alien entity bent on opening a portal to the Netherverse.
4. It is your 'time of the month' and you can not cast magic during this session.
5. You are insulted by everyone in this town for some reason.
6. That octopus you just ate...wasn't quite dead.

I think you can have a lot of fun with this.

By the way, I started reading your blog after seeing your posts. My daughters are massive anime fans and I believe they will LOVE your other games. You need to get some of these published soon I think.

Also liking your podcast. You talk considerably more sense, with a lot more to say, than most others.

(I have the Maid RPG but have not played yet...I must)

Also thinking on the 'Nutjob Cleric'. Perhaps Amelia is more of a 'Warrior / Cleric for JUSTICE'...(Chaotic Good alignment anyone?) rather than a straight nutjob?

Also, Zelos...hmmm...'Devious Monster' perhaps?