The Mysterious World of the Inverse Tropes

[Superfluous Crow]

Hmm, another idea perhaps:

The Simplicity-Complexicity Dichotomy: Instead of having the two major forces of your setting be something as classical as good/evil, law/chaos or light/darkness, you could go for something new with the forces of simplicity vs. complexity.

[Nomadic]

Why do the forces even have to be in opposition. What about the forces of kindness to others and respect for nature in an epic battle to draw more followers to their cause.

And on the topic of end of the world scenarios why are they always bad? I want to see the PCs trying to usher in the end of the world so that the new glorious paradise can come about. Meanwhile a cult of chaos is trying to hinder them long enough so that the ancient evil can return and consume everyone's souls and halt the afterlife.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Now that I have time for a longer response I can give my (amature) careful analysis of these two:

Arctic Environments: Post-apocalyptic worlds always seem to take place in the desert. What about a frigid wasteland for once? Or just a world with focus on the subarctic instead of the subtropical where snow is more common than palms.
 Anthropomorhic alternatives: Canines and cats have been done before. Where are the slugs? the bacteria? the platypi? There are millions of animals which could provide rather interesting templates for a new race.

I say they're both a manifestation of attractiveness: if we're going to have to be seeing this setting and these people in our minds we want them to look nice.  Now I realize "attractiveness" can be subjective, but I know a lot of people like mammals more than other possible anthropomorphic templates and I'd be willing to be warm landscapes are often preferred to cold ones.

[Nomadic]

I want a PC playable race of awakened bic pens

[Superfluous Crow]

Heh, I had an idea for the novemberish contest (the one with the short settings) about a post-apocalyptic nuclear Third World War scenario which ultimately resulted in a changed and flourishing world lit by 47 nuclear suns.