I don't know how hard it would be to implement or how much it would cost, but I feel certain it would markedly improve the shelf-life, player retention, and replay for the game, well beyond whatever the initial investment amounted to.
My first thought, anytime I buy into one of these Dungeon and Dragons RPGs is... "Why haven't they figured this out yet?!" Like who's asleep in the boardroom, that they can't see how a digital fashion suite for a fantasy game would be an instant hit.
The MMOs have figured this out, but the way the MMOs typically use the concept is as a form max-level character continued engagement. Like they'll gate keep it with crafting, or some kind of trading system, such that most of the cool options are walled off, to try and make aesthetic progression take over for experience progression during the endgame. But they don't use it as initial hook. When it's like the best and easiest initial hook of all!
Nothing gets a player amped like creating a unique character look. I think what many people want is basically digital Barbie or GI Joe dress-up, but in a fantasy setting. It doesn't have to be a crafting mini-game or pay to play. They just need to open up whatever tools they use in house to do this, and make some of those available at char creation like an outfit designer. Basically what NWN did in the armor creator part of their toolset, but brought into the actual game, and put up front. Like as the first or second thing that the player sees.
I bet people would gripe a lot less about how such and such a Class isn't included yet, or how the actual game is still just like a skeleton, if they're too busy trying to choose belt buckles and decide which color leather strap looks best, or whatever hehe.
