I think the stagnation is the core problem here but it's the one that's hardest to do anything about... The best I can come up with would be doing events which focused on a particular theme and getting people to design to that brief rather than just plumping in the same bots in over and over again (which I'm as guilty of as anyone). Quick turnover tournaments but ones that try to get the creative juices flowing a little? Just one bot a person and whatever tournament structure is needed to get the number entries' I get to work?

If there's any interest I'll open one up now with everyone having until I get back from my Japan holiday (15th July) to design something? As soon as entries close for that tournament I could open up submissions for the next round, although if someone wanted to alternate seasons with me would probably help the pacing?