Rex Tree Nights
Summary
Rex Tree Nights is an independent Dungeon World actual play podcast set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland following a nuclear disaster that destroyed most of civilization. The campaign follows a group of young adventurers exploring the ruins of the old world while dealing with bizarre cults, mutated creatures, and remnants of lost technology. The sessions balance dark post-apocalyptic themes with comedy and character-driven storytelling.
The world is a dangerous wasteland where technology from the pre-disaster "City" continues to surface in unexpected ways, suggesting the old world's influence persists. The campaign features Scooby-Doo-esque cult activity, failed scientific experiments, and slowly-revealed mysteries of what came before the disaster.
The campaign's title was established during Session 3, when the group discussed what to call their show. Brad had been calling it "Rex Tree Nights," a name that was enthusiastically adopted, with one participant declaring: "Rex Tree Nights is perfect." The name references Rex Tree, a significant location in the campaign world.
The show has been described by the cast as "the Adult Swim of Dungeon World podcasts," suggesting an experimental and unconventional approach to actual play content. The podcast maintains strict independence, having turned down network offers to preserve creative control and avoid running advertisements. The podcast is part of or connected to the Fable and Folly Network.
Cast
The campaign is run by Shawn as Game Master, with the following players and their characters:
Setting
The setting is a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the remnants of a world destroyed by nuclear disaster. Most of civilization has been wiped out, leaving behind ruins, bizarre cults, mutated creatures, and scattered remnants of lost technology.
The pre-disaster world is referred to as "the City," and its advanced technology continues to surface throughout the wastes. In Session 3, characters discovered devices like synesthesia masks and mysterious cards, reinforcing the theme of lost technology persisting in unexpected forms.
Rex Tree serves as a notable location in this world, significant enough to lend its name to the campaign itself.
Characters in this world must navigate not only the physical dangers of the wasteland but also the legacy of failed scientific experiments and the mysteries of what came before. Entities like The Sniff Lord represent the strange and dangerous elements that have emerged in this post-apocalyptic landscape.
Seasons
The campaign structure includes individual sessions, with Session 3 marking an important milestone where the show's identity and title were formally established.