Just as players tend to fit into one or more of the previous post's categories, those same players tend to play "to type." There are obvious examples of this and less obvious ones as well. Every gamer has encountered at least one of those players who won't play anything except a specific race or class, whether they fit in the setting or not. When I was a teenager, I went through a phase where I wouldn't play anything except a Jedi. My referees (who were all older than me) were very nice in accommodating this, even in fantasy settings. Luckily, I grew out of that sort of silliness and only play them in Star Wars.
I've encountered people who will only play Paladins or Clerics of a specific deity, even if that deity doesn't exist in the game. There have also been those people who will only play a Dwarf or an Elf, when the game won't support such things. These are obvious examples of playing to type. This kind of player can only be handled in one of two ways as a referee, indulge them or just be very clear that the type isn't allowed in your game.
The less obvious examples are people who always play a certain personality or political type, yet the outer coating of the character changes. This can range from someone who always plays the rebel outsider to someone who always manages to work their personal New Age world view into their concept. The first example would be the person who in Vampire: the Requiem plays the Carthian and in Star Wars prefers the Smuggler. The second example is the person who in Dungeons and Dragons plays the Druid or Ranger and in Werewolf: the Apocalypse prefers the Child of Gaia. These are comfort zones and we should always expect players to stay within a certain range of their comfort zones.
The only time that the less obvious types are a concern, is when you have two or more people whose comfort zone would always be in opposition. Some play styles (per my last post) and character types are just not compatible. As fellow players and referees, we will need to remind folks that they aren't being targeted or that the other person doesn't hate them.
My personal example would be two folks I've gamed with for several years each. One of them likes an obtuse and free-flowing game, thus tends to play intellectual manipulators and enjoys using obscure philosophical, intellectual and political resources. The second person prefers a predictable beer and pretzels approach to game, so tends to play characters that fit into a pretty specific structure and doesn't waste much time with intellectual details. These two people constantly find themselves at odds in various games.
Neither of them have a superior play style or type. Their play styles and comfort zones are just not compatible. Most players are mature enough to realize that it's just in game and not in the real world. If the players tend to take game personally the referee may have to take more direct action. When a group is large enough, such as a LARP or tournament game, this can be handled by keeping such people away from one another. As a referee, do your best to keep the characters busy at opposite ends of the game.
If you have a smaller game, or it's impossible to keep them away from each other, the referee may have to sit them down. This can be uncomfortable, but ignoring the problem will only make it worse. It will need to be made clear that they aren't the victim/s, it's just a matter of incompatible play styles and character types. If they tend play less intellectual characters, the group's intellectual elitist will always target them. If they always play the anarchist, the establishment characters will always oppress them. Certain types will always target certain other types in game.
If they can't accept this, they may want to look at other gaming options. I have several gamer friends that I avoid playing games with. I love them outside of game and have great times swapping cheesy stories with them. On the other hand, we don't game well together. Nobody likes to lose players to hard feelings, but sometimes not being in the same game as someone that makes you miserable is the only option. It is a game, after all. It's supposed to fun.
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