I personally don’t see the bears like frightend children much, athough the game could be played like that easily. there’s a lot that can be done with this.

Also, if i ever get to play or run this, first thing i’m doing is makeing a four-armed Witchdoctor Bear with razor claws and a penchant for hearts.

This has a really dark, somewhat subversive, feel. The mass-produced symbols of childish joy are twisted into the scourge of suburbia. And suburbia takes on a slightly distopian feel, particularly with granny’s false teeth shuriken… I’d love to run this as a one-shot (I’m not sure how suitable it would be for a long-term campaign) particularly on halloween.

A few ideas for running this:
-Make everyone follow the roleplaying conventions laid down in “Puppetland.” Speak in squeaky little voices, and no swearing or outright vicious speech. This will make the actions of the Bears all that more awful. “Oh, Mister policeman! You’re making me sad! I guess it’s time to play my special game!”
-Get people to bring a stuffed animal to the game. As they have no mechanical effects, it would make a great prop for pantomiming.
-Try to make the world scarier than the bears. I find, in this game, the bears seem like terrified and abused children. How would they see the world?

Come home safely and soon, Matt.