Female player of Galciv2 here (and Master of Magic back in the day), just preordered the game after reading the previews.
Who cares about changing a character's hair style and looks, what I would REALLY like to see is an option to specify whether a dynasty marries off the daughters, or the sons, or a mix. Also, the ability of creating female units. I think that it would enhance the game because we could create custom races of amazons if we wanted, and so on.
About the idea that female characters should have less strength, more charisma, etc. - I strongly disagree. Players should have the freedom to create a female counterpart of the Hulk (or a weak, but very charming male character) if that's what they feel like playing.
I disagree with the argument against female units based on the fact that women had to be home to rear children, could be pregnant, and so on. What about all those elderly frail looking sorcerers in fantasy then, shouldn't they all be in a retirement home instead of hurling fireballs at each other? If I wanted to play a side with female units I could justify it to myself with any made up possible explanation, e.g. "the second daughter of each family is not married off but sent to war" or whatever else, after all it's not a historical game, it's a fantasy and it should afford freedom.
Said that, I am perfectly happy to play with male units only, if implementing also female ones would take too much time. If it's just redundant and cosmetic work, I don't care if my unit is male, female, or a red dot on the map. Choosing what offspring go off to be champions or spouses though, that would really enhance the game and make it more interesting, I believe.
As for the OP and customisation, and attracting female players.I think that us females who play games like this don't care all that much about customisation, although maybe more than a male player. The art in Elemental from what I've seen is already going to be very appealing. If anything I think that something that would appeal to women is some element of choice in the looks of things - e.g.
- a heir grows into adulthood. Let me see three possible outcomes of the genetic mix between the parents and choose my favorite portrait for him among them.
- a new heraldic (sp?) symbol is created by marriage. Again, rather than just giving me one random result, let me choose between three or four options.
However, as nice as it would be, it's fluff.