[quote=@stone] I suppose my end conclusion is that the setting itself is often what fosters character diversity. If the GM makes a world where there's options, the players will take those options. 
[/quote]

I agree, sometimes the setting inspires more creativity in the players allowing for greater character diversity.

[quote=@Odin]

I'd like to see more ethnic variation, more background variation, and less edgy protagonist backstories. 
[/quote]

 This is what I was initially thinking when I started this thread. I rarely ever see non-white characters or characters that challenge gender norms. One of my favorite RPs was a “Small town punk band tries to make it big” and the ethnic diversity of the characters was amazing compared to other RPs I’ve GMed or been involved in. I’m not sure what prompted it but I was extremely happy about the turnout.

 One of my other prompts for posting this was that I happened to be searching shutterstock images for character inspiration and came across one that made me want to write up a transgender character, because I’d never seen a trans character in RP and the model inspired me to consider the possibility and it seemed like it could be a fun new challenge. I’ve branched out quite a bit since I started RPing, I used to play exclusively male characters who were always in/near my own age range. Now I find myself creating characters in the 30-50s age range, both male and female, and I find it’s more fun to create depth in characters that have actually lived long enough to accrue a greater measure of life experience.

[quote=@BangoSkank]

I dont know that anyone would find folks willing to do this, but it would be fun to get together with folks, have them create character sheets and then roll for who plays who.  Like everyone makes 2 characters up, make sure there are enough characters dissimilar enough to each other to have the right number of real options, then have folks vote on what the Party is composed of, then roll for who plays what.  So 5 participants = 10 character options, voted down to the 5 characters to actually be played, and then you roll for who plays which of the 5.
[/quote]

This could be a fun, experimental exercise. If you ever decide to give it a try I’d be interested in participating. 

—

Also as several of you mentioned, creating intentional weakness and character limitations. And I mean specifically physical weakness, not just mental/emotional. And I mean obvious weaknesses, real thought out character flaws instead of an afterthought addition. When I see stuff like a powerful pyromancer battle mage who’s only “weakness” is that they’re afraid of spiders or something, that’s lazy.