This game sadly lacks a "Start Game" option after you create your character. This is silly, so here's a guide on how to bypass this.

NOTE: This does not erase your character preset from the character creator companion program, so you can make your cool preset there and then fine-tune it in the actual game!

For restarting the new game I did the below steps with the game launched.

1. Disable Cloud Sync in Steam. You can enable it after you are happy with your new save.
   
2. Locate your Steam folder, go to: ...\Steam\userdata\[your steam id]\2054970\remote\win64_save\
   
3. Delete the data000.bin file.
   
4. Go back to main menu if not there already, choose to Load from Last Save. It will give you an error. Confirm.
   
5. Start Game should now appear in the main menu.
   
6. Have fun!

Later in the game you can get an item that allows a one-time change of appearance.

1. Acquire the Art of Metamorphosis book.
   
2. Rest at the Inn or player house to save.
   
3. Go to the barber, edit your character.
   
4. If not happy go the main menu and Load from Last Inn Rest.
   
5. (Optional) Once happy rest at the Inn again.

In the original Dragon's Dogma you could purchase Art of Metamorphosis which worked in a similar fashion to DD2, but also after a certain late-game boss you could buy the Secret of Metamorphosis, which unlocked unlimited character re-customization from the main menu. I don't know if this is the case in DD2, so if anyone finds this out please let me know.

If something is not working or your save is getting rolled back you have likely ran into one of these.

• You didn't read the guide.
  
• You didn't follow steps as described.
  
• You did things I didn't tell you to do.
  
• Subset of the above: you have tried to dupe items or cheat using multiplayer.
  
• You didn't rest at the inn after being done and chose to Load from Last Inn Rest.
  
• You didn't rest at the inn for the last 10 hours, and then accidentally selected Load from Last Inn Rest undoing 10 hours of gameplay.

All of the above issues are fixed with improving reading comprehension, following the instructions precisely, and finding the missing chromosomes.

There's some information floating about soft-bans for altered save data.

None of the stuff covered here does unless you experience one of the Skill Issues from the section above. Don't make it a skill issue.