American role-playing game web series actress
Aabria Iyengar is an American web series actress known primarily for
tabletop role-playing game anthologies,
streams and
podcasts . She was the
Dungeon Master (DM) for the first season of
Exandria Unlimited . Iyengar has been both a player and a
Game Master for multiple seasons of
Dimension 20 and a guest DM on
The Adventure Zone .
Career
Iyengar is the former
Chief Marketing Officer for the dice-maker Dice Envy.
[1]
[2]
[3] [
better source needed ]
Actual play
Iyengar appeared as both a
player and as the
Dungeon Master (DM) in multiple
actual play
podcasts between 2018 and 2020 on the Happy Jack's RPG Network.
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9] Iyengar was originally a guest player, acting as Laura Bennett, in the actual play
web series Kollok: 1991 on the Hyper RPG Twitch channel before joining the main cast in the second season in 2019.
[10] In 2022, Iyengar reprised her role in the sequel set 30 years after the first show – Kollok was broadcast on
AMC Networks ' FearHQ Twitch channel.
[11]
[12] Iyengar has been part of the main cast, playing as Koseh, for Into the Mother Lands since 2020.
[2]
[13]
In 2021, Iyengar was the DM for two actual play
anthology web series –
Misfits and Magic , the tenth season of
Dimension 20 , and the first season of
Exandria Unlimited , a
Critical Role
spin-off .
[14]
[15]
[16] She was the first Critical Role DM after
Matthew Mercer .
[17] Chase Carter, for
Dicebreaker , stated that "both appearances were hits within their respective fandoms, leading many to clamor for more Iyengar".
[13] Iyengar also performed as a guest DM on
The Adventure Zone , with the
McElroy Brothers as players, in 2021.
[1]
[18] Christian Hoffer of
ComicBook.com highlighted that "Iyengar has quickly built a reputation and fanbase due to her fantastic storytelling and rapport with players".
[1] Carter commented that "Iyengar is quickly becoming a household name in the realm of tabletop actual play. [...] Her fame has been a welcome change for many who are glad to see a Black woman garnering so much respect and excitement in what has been a predominantly white endeavor within a historically white hobby".
[13] Iyengar gave the Storytime
keynote at the 2021
PAX Unplugged .
[19]
In August 2022, Iyengar appeared as
gamemaster on Dimension 20 : A Court of Fey & Flowers , a combination of
Dungeons & Dragons and the
Jane Austen -inspired game
Good Society .
[20] She also joined the cast of the
Vampire: The Masquerade web series
NY by Night , playing as Margot "Fuego" Walker. Em Friedman, for
Polygon in 2022, commented that Iyengar's actual play credits now "span nearly the entire industry" with her By Night debut.
[21]
In January 2023, it was announced that Iyengar, alongside
Erika Ishii ,
Lou Wilson , and
Brennan Lee Mulligan , would star in the creator-owned actual play
podcast
Worlds Beyond Number ; the show premiered in March 2023 and ranked in
Patreon's top twenty accounts within a month.
[22]
[23]
[24]
[25] Also in March 2023, Iyengar joined the
third campaign of Critical Role as a guest star playing as gnome cleric Deanna.
[26] In April 2023,
WizKids announced a new miniature boxed set of Exandria Unlimited characters including a figurine of Iyengar.
[27] In November 2023, Iyengar joined
Candela Obscura as the third chapter's game master.
[28]
[29]
Personal life
Iyengar attended the University of Iowa where she was a member of the volleyball team.
[30]
Iyengar first played Dungeons & Dragons in 2015 or 2016
[31] when she was invited to her now husband's board game group and was given a cleric character sheet to play.
[32]
Wired highlighted that "Iyengar was often the only woman or person of color at the table, and she faced a lot of other players questioning her knowledge of the game, as well as more overt harassment. As a GM, she now works to ensure her players don’t have to face those same challenges. [...] With the increased visibility of actual play games, [...] Iyengar has increasingly been able to tailor her playing experience to what she wanted it to be for both herself and her audience".
[33]
Filmography
Web series
Year
Title
Role
Notes
Ref.
2018–2020
Happy Jacks RPG
Revelations
Thaïs Guillory
Main role; 10 episodes
[5]
Dragon Heist
Dungeon Master
Main role: 12 episodes
[6]
The Autumn People
Khairyn Antwi
Main role; 14 episodes
[7]
Monsoon
The Arcane / Science Pantheon / Child of A.I.
Main role; 9 episodes
[8]
Idolon Academy
Tendai Collier aka "Eye"
Main role; 16 episodes
[9]
2019–2022
Kollok
1991
Laura Bennett
Guest role in season 1; main cast in season 2
[10]
Main cast Sequel set 30 years after Kollok: 1991 ; sometimes billed as season 3
[11]
[12]
2019–2020
Saving Throw
Urban Shadows RPG
Game master
One-shot
[34]
Frozen & Dragons
Elsa
One-shot
[35]
Mysterium: Hidden Signs
Esme
Limited series; 3 episodes
[36]
Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Dungeon Master
Limited series; 3 episode prequel to Pirates of Salt Bay
[37]
Pirates of Salt Bay
Dungeon Master
Main cast; 40 episodes
[38]
[39]
RPG Exploration Society
Amaka, Sonny
Episode: "Shadow of the Demon Lord", Episode: "Alien RPG"
[40]
[41]
2019
Wildcards
East Texas University
Renee Billings
Episode: "The Seekers of Danger"
[42]
2020–2021
New Pantheon
Demigods
Megan, Demigod of Ares
Main cast; 19 episodes
[43]
[44]
Academia
Helen Silva, Divinity Thoth
Episode: "S1E6"
[45]
Tales from Salt Bay
Engine Heart
Ticky-Nicky Prizebot
Limited series; 2 episodes
[46]
Good Society
Rosaline Wildingham
Limited series; 4 episodes
[47]
[48]
Monsterhearts 2
Hester Blake
Limited series; 2 episodes
[49]
Roll20 Presents
Lost Mine of Phandelver
Witkha
Main cast; 14 episodes Sponsored by
Wizards of the Coast to promote the
Starter Set on Roll20
[50]
Rime of the Frostmaiden
Bursa
Main cast; 13 episodes Sponsored by Wizards of the Coast to promote the
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden module on Roll20
[51]
2020–2022
Into the Mother Lands
Koseh
Main cast
[52]
[2]
2020–2023
Dimension 20
Pirates of Leviathan
Myrtle
Main cast; 6 episodes
[53]
[54]
Misfits and Magic
Game Master
Main cast; 4 episodes Also appeared in the Misfits & Magic Holiday Special
[55]
The Seven
Antiope Jones
Main cast; 10 episodes
[57]
A Court of Fey and Flowers
Game Master
Main cast; 10 episodes
[58]
[59]
The Ravening War
Karna Solara
Main cast; 6 episodes
[60]
Burrow's End
Game Master
Main cast; 10 episodes
[61]
[62]
Failed Save
Campaign 1
Fess / Zhirryn
Guest role in season 1; main cast in seasons 2-3; 31 episodes
[63]
Campaign 2
Chi
Main cast; 30 episodes
Also appeared in vignette mini-episodes and spin-off one-shots
[63]
Fantasy TGIFridays
Chi
Limited series; 3 episodes
[64]
2021–2022
Exandria Unlimited
Dungeon Master
Main cast; 8 episodes
[2]
[17]
Kymal
Dungeon Master
Main cast; 2 episodes Continuation of the first season
[65]
[66]
Calamity
Laerryn Coramar-Seelie
Main cast; 4 episodes
[67]
[68]
2021
The Adventure Zone
The Zone of Adventure: Imbalance
Dungeon Master
Limited series; 3 episodes
[1]
[18]
Gods of Metal: Ragnarock
Val Cano
One-shot
[69]
Total Puppet Khaos
Neve
Season 2 main cast; 3 episodes
[70]
A Very Pet Adventure
Hygge
Main cast; 13 episodes
[71]
2022
NY by Night
Margot "Fuego" Walker
Main cast; 8 episodes
[21]
[72]
The Borros Saga: Banesbreak
Prythiv
Main cast; 12 episodes
[73]
[74]
Dark Souls: The Roleplaying Game
Maerwyn
One-shot
[75]
Crypteens: A Cryptid Demigods Adventure
Game Master
One-shot
[76]
Ten Candles: Devil in the Details
Blythe Freeman
One-shot
[77]
Ms. Pixel's Fantastical Circus: Call of Cthulhu
Lenore Reilly
One-shot
[78]
[79]
D&D Chaos
Dungeon Master
Main cast; 3 episodes
Roll20 series using the
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos module
[80]
2023
Worlds Beyond Number
The Children's Adventure
The Wizard
Main cast
Patreon exclusive prequel podcast for The Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One
[23]
[24]
The Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One
Main cast
[23]
[24]
Salt & Serpent
Dis
Main cast; 4 episodes
[81]
[82]
Pixel Circus Pride One-Shot
Tricia
One-shot
[83]
Barbies For Better Pay
1996 Happy Holidays Barbie
One-shot
[84]
Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!
Guest role; 2 episodes
[85]
2023–2024
Critical Role
Campaign Three
Deanna Leimert, Dungeon Master
Guest role; 10 episodes
[26]
[86]
Candela Obscura
Chapter 3: "The Circle of Tide & Bone"
Game Master
Main cast; 3 episodes
[28]
Video games
References
^
a
b
c
d
"The Adventure Zone Returns to Balance With Guest DM Aabria Iyengar" .
ComicBook.com . November 8, 2021. Retrieved 2023-04-09 .
^
a
b
c
d King, Chris (June 10, 2021).
"Critical Role's next campaign launches this month with a new Dungeon Master" . Polygon . Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^
"Aabria's Mage Hand" . Dice Envy (Product page). Retrieved 2024-01-30 . As proof, we bring you dice sets featuring a font made from the handwriting of our former CMO, Aabria Iyengar
^
"Aabria Iyengar" . Happy Jacks RPG Network . 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2024-01-06 .
^
a
b
"Revelations: Demigods PBTA Actual Play" . Happy Jacks RPG Network . 8 August 2018. Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
a
b
"Dragon Heist" . Happy Jacks RPG Network . Retrieved 2024-01-06 .
^
a
b
"The Autumn People" . Happy Jacks RPG Network . 3 April 2019. Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
a
b
"Monsoon: Demigods PBTA" . Happy Jacks RPG Network . Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
a
b
"Idolon Academy: Masks PBTA" . Happy Jacks RPG Network . Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
a
b Roth, Julia (2022-02-14).
"Zac Lim Eubank and Aabria Iyengar Chat KOLLOK and Interactive TTRPG Shows" . Geek Girl Authority . Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
a
b
"Kollok, New Intense Tabletop RPG Show, Premiering on FearHQ" . 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
a
b Hall, Charlie (2022-02-15).
"Kollok actual play kicks off season 3 with a gonzo two-part premiere episode" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
a
b
c Carter, Chase (2021-11-08).
"Aabria Iyengar achieves an RPG actual play hat trick by leading The Adventure Zone's new mini-arc" . Dicebreaker . Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^ María, Anna (2021-07-01).
"The Black creatives of Dimension 20's 'Misfits and Magic' are redefining inclusivity in tabletop gaming" . The Daily Dot . Retrieved 2023-04-09 .
^
"Critical Role's Actors Discuss Play as Performance" . Gizmodo . 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2023-04-09 .
^ Hall, Charlie (2022-05-13).
"Critical Role and Dimension 20 are crossing the streams for a new actual play series" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-04-09 .
^
a
b King, Chris (2021-07-21).
"Critical Role's new D&D show is great but still challenging for newcomers" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-04-09 .
^
a
b Hall, Charlie (2021-11-08).
"The Adventure Zone returns to its original setting for a special 3-part series" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
"PAX East 2022 Returns to Boston, PAX Unplugged Upcoming" . www.cgmagonline.com . 2021-11-20. Retrieved 2023-04-12 .
^ Hall, Charlie (2022-07-20).
"A new actual play ports Jane Austen into Dungeons & Dragons" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-04-09 .
^
a
b Friedman, Em (2022-07-01).
"New York by Night brings Vampire-themed actual play to the City That Never Sleeps" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
"TTRPG Alums Form New Tabletop Podcast Venture Worlds Beyond Number" . Gizmodo . January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023 .
^
a
b
c Friedman, Em (2023-01-19).
"The best new actual play series coming in 2023" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-02-09 .
^
a
b
c
"Worlds Beyond Number TTRPG Podcast Launches Patreon, Pacing Towards Record Number of Backers" .
ComicBook.com . February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023 .
^ Hall, Charlie (2023-02-28).
"Worlds Beyond Number is the next big breakout actual play podcast" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-04-09 .
^
a
b McCauley, Tara (March 17, 2023).
"Critical Role Makes a Radical Change to Its Table Lineup" . CBR . Retrieved March 17, 2023 .
^
"Critical Role: Aabria Iyengar Gets Her Own Miniature" . GAMING . Retrieved 2023-04-09 .
^
a
b
"Critical Role's Next Candela Obscura Chapter Brings In Aabria Iyengar as GM" .
ComicBook.com . November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023 .
^ McCauley, Tara (November 7, 2023).
"Critical Role Announces Game Master for Candela Obscura: Tide & Bone" . The Escapist . Retrieved November 7, 2023 .
^
"Who Got High and Reenacted a Concert Using Eggs?" . Dirty Laundry . September 26, 2023. Event occurs at 38:32.
Dropout . Retrieved October 6, 2023 .
^
"For Some D&D Players, Tabletop Roleplaying Is More Than Dice and Magic – It's a 'Sanity Saving' Mental Health Boost" . LX News . September 19, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-12 .
^
"DM Combat Banquet | Winter 2021" . Critter Hug . February 25, 2021. Event occurs at 8:42.
Critical Role Productions .
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^ Burns, Kam (October 21, 2021).
"Live Dungeons & Dragons Shows Are Inviting More Players to the Table" . Wired .
ISSN
1059-1028 . Retrieved 2023-04-12 .
^
Urban Shadows RPG - One Shot (YouTube). Saving Throw. April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
Frozen & Dragons - A Frozen-inspired D&D One-Shot (YouTube). Saving Throw. December 6, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
Mysterium: Hidden Signs - Savage Worlds RPG - Episode 3 (YouTube). Saving Throw. June 5, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"Ghosts of Saltmarsh - 3 of 3" . Ghosts of Saltmarsh . Episode 3. July 8, 2019. Saving Throw.
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"Series Premiere!" . Pirates of Salt Bay . Season 1. Episode 1. September 26, 2019. Saving Throw.
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"Series Finale!" . Pirates of Salt Bay . Season 4. Episode 5. October 5, 2020. Saving Throw.
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"Shadow of the Demon Lord" . RPG Exploration Society . July 29, 2019. Saving Throw.
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"Alien RPG" . RPG Exploration Society . Season 1. Episode 3. March 27, 2020. Saving Throw.
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"The Seekers of Danger" . Wildcards: East Texas University . Season 1. Episode 12. April 22, 2019. Saving Throw.
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"Season 2 Premiere" . New Pantheon: Demigods . Season 2. Episode 1. January 7, 2020. Saving Throw.
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"Hotel California, Part Eight" . New Pantheon: Demigods . Season 3. Episode 10. September 6, 2020. Saving Throw.
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"S1E6" . New Pantheon: Academia . Season 1. Episode 6. January 6, 2021. Saving Throw.
YouTube . Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
Tales from Salt Bay - Engine Heart, Part 2 (YouTube). Saving Throw. November 16, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
Good Society - Chapter Three - A Tale from Salt Bay (YouTube). Saving Throw. December 7, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
Good Society - Zombie One-Shot - A Tale from Salt Bay (YouTube). Saving Throw. December 14, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
Monsterhearts - Tales from Salt Bay - Part Two (YouTube). Saving Throw. May 9, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2023 .
^
"Roll20 Presents: Lost Mine of Phandelver Playlist" . YouTube . Dungeons & Dragons. 2020. Retrieved 2021-07-08 .
^
"Roll20 Presents: Rime of the Frostmaiden Playlist" . YouTube . 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-08 .
^ Hall, Charlie (2021-06-10).
"Mother Lands is a tabletop role-playing game free of slavery and colonialism" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-04-11 .
^
"Dungeons & Dragons: Dimension 20 Is a TOTALLY Different Take On Actual-Play" . CBR . October 8, 2020.
^
"Pirates of Leviathan Continues to Push the Boundaries of Dungeons & Dragons" .
ComicBook.com . October 12, 2020.
Archived from the original on October 15, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021 .
^
"DIMENSION 20 Brings Aabria Iyengar in to GM MISFITS AND MAGIC Releasing This Month" . GeekTyrant . June 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021 .
^ Good, Owen S. (July 28, 2021).
"Dimension 20 goes back to school with a new season this August" . Polygon . Retrieved July 28, 2021 .
^ Friedman, Em (2022-08-24).
"My favorite new Jane Austen adaptation is an elaborate game of Dungeons & Dragons" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-02-04 .
^ Friedman, Em (2022-10-06).
"A Court of Fey & Flowers has a lot to say about love, class, and equality" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-02-04 .
^ Hall, Charlie (April 19, 2023).
"Critical Role's Matt Mercer will lead Dimension 20's Crown of Candy prequel" . Polygon . Retrieved June 3, 2023 .
^ Carter, Chase (September 20, 2023).
"Dimension 20 evokes Watership Down in new D&D actual play season featuring a family of stoats" . Dicebreaker . Retrieved September 20, 2023 .
^ Marshall, Cass (2023-09-20).
"Dimension 20 returns with an adventure starring a family of stoats" . Polygon . Retrieved 2023-09-20 .
^
a
b
"Failed Save" . PixelCircus . Retrieved June 3, 2023 .
^
"Fantasy TGIFridays | Episode 1" . PixelCircus . September 24, 2022.
^ Sheehan, Gavin (March 14, 2022).
"Critical Role Announces Two New Shows in Latest Video" . Bleeding Cool News And Rumors . Retrieved March 14, 2022 .
^ Radulovic, Petrana (March 14, 2022).
"Critical Role announces two new series to celebrate its 7th anniversary" . Polygon . Retrieved March 14, 2022 .
^
"Critical Role Announces New Exandria Unlimited Miniseries" .
ComicBook.com . May 12, 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-12 .
^ Cooke, Aaron (2022-06-08).
"What We Want to See from Exandria Unlimited: Calamity's Characters" . CBR . Retrieved 2022-06-09 .
^
"We playtested Gods of Metal: Ragnarock and IT. WAS. AWESOME" . PixelCircus . February 15, 2021.
^
"TPK" . PixelCircus . January 1, 2022.
^
"A Very Pet Adventure" . PixelCircus . August 21, 2021.
^
"Vampire: The Masquerade's New York By Night Season 1 Debuts On July 1" . Screen Rant . June 27, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022 .
^ Hoffer, Christian (March 26, 2022).
"Dungeons & Dragons Show Banesbreak Will Be Your New Favorite Web Series" . ComicBook.com . Retrieved 2023-07-28 .
^
"The Borros Saga: Banesbreak" . PixelCircus . August 30, 2022.
^
"The Dark Souls Roleplaying Game" . PixelCircus . June 30, 2022.
^
"CRYPTEENS | A Cryptid Demigods Adveture" . PixelCircus on Twitch . October 12, 2022.
^
"Devil In The Details | Ten Candles | !cw" . PixelCircus on Twitch . October 20, 2022.
^ O'Brien, Michael (October 26, 2022).
"Pixel Circus plays Call of Cthulhu for Halloween - Sun Oct 30" . Chaosium Inc . Retrieved 2023-07-28 .
^
"Ms. Pixel's Fantastical Circus: Call of Cthulhu One Shot" . PixelCircus . November 4, 2022.
^
"Roll20 Strixhaven Game" . Roll20 . Retrieved June 3, 2023 .
^ O'Brien, Michael (March 27, 2023).
" "Salt and Serpent" - Pixel Circus plays BRP - starts April 2" . Chaosium Inc . Retrieved 2023-07-28 .
^
"Widow's Watch" . Salt and Serpent . April 5, 2023. PixelCircus.
^
"Pixel Circus Pride One-Shot" . PixelCircus on Twitch . June 23, 2023.
^
"Barbie D&D" . PixelCircus . July 25, 2023.
^ Tyrrell, Caitlin (2023-12-04).
"Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill! Interview: Aabria Iyengar & Gina DeVivo On Scream & Horror Influences" . ScreenRant . Retrieved 2024-01-30 .
^ McCauley, Tara (2024-04-19).
"Matthew Mercer Pulls Off a Shocking Critical Role First" . The Escapist . Retrieved 2024-04-19 .
^ Hall, Charlie (2023-09-06).
"Critical Role's Matt Mercer can join your crew in Starfield" . Polygon . Retrieved 2024-01-30 .