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Sunfall Kickstarter - 3 March!

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:12:05 +0000

Sunfall, my new four-book gamebook series is launching on Kickstarter 3 March 5pm GMT. The page is now live – which provides info on the series, the various pledge levels, and also a notification button, so you can be ready to hop on board the moment the campaign goes live.

The Prologue is currently available for free, and features the ‘tutorial area’ from Book One. You might also want to check out this preview video on the Gamebook Guides YouTube Channel, which provides an excellent overview of the Sunfall prologue and its game mechanics.

I’ve spent over two years developing the story, the game system, and the open world, so you can probably imagine that I am super excited for people to finally be learning more about this ground-breaking series - and getting a hands-on preview too!

If you want to keep up to date with the latest news, trailers and other sneak peeks, then I’d recommend joining the DestinyQuest Facebook community – where I share regular updates.

Hope to see you during the campaign!

And in the meantime, happy adventuring.

MJW

Sunfall: Project Update

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 19:16:28 +0000

I thought this was a good time to bring everyone up to date with Sunfall news. If you’ve missed previous posts, then Sunfall is my new four-part gamebook project inspired by Mayan and Aztec mythology. All four volumes will be released together through Archmage Press, with a crowdfunding campaign launching on Gamefound or Kickstarter in the first quarter of next year.

The game system is entirely new, this time influenced by games such as Dark Souls and Elden Ring, with an emphasis on character building, item management, and combat mastery.

Here’s what to expect from Sunfall:

A deeper RPG system than DestinyQuest, with primary and secondary attributes, talents, and a more refined ability and inventory system.
Tactical combat focused on resource management (stamina and spirit) and adapting to the move sets of your opponents.
Weapons play a defining role – shaping your playstyle, and augmented by armour and talisman abilities.
Multiple ways to play: from swinging heavy two-handers (club or hammer style) to fast, dual-wielding dodge builds based on synergy.
Status effects take on greater importance in advanced encounters, allowing you to impact the flow of combat and maximise damage.
Combat isn’t designed to be punishing – it rewards tactical thinking and clever use of resources. Even a hero with the most basic gear can prevail with sound strategy and good resource management.
A brand-new travel system creates a pseudo-open world feel, letting you gradually unlock regions, revisit earlier zones, and uncover new secrets as you progress.

Jamie Noble has been commissioned for the four front covers and David Wyatt, who has worked on most of my DestinyQuest books, is doing the full-colour interiors.

More information will be coming towards the end of the year. For the latest updates, keep an eye on my YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Happy Adventuring!

MJW

Sunfall and the Road Ahead

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 06:40:09 +0100

Although things may seem quiet on the surface, behind the scenes there is a bustling hive of activity, I promise! For the past year, I’ve been hard at work planning and writing an exciting new gamebook series called Sunfall.

Sunfall is an open-world gamebook adventure inspired by the rich mythology of the Maya and Aztecs. Set across four interlinked volumes, readers will take on the role of a fallen hero, newly awakened from imprisoned slumber to answer a desperate call to arms.

For many sheaves of years, we, the children of the Third Sun, have bled to nourish the cosmos. We gladly offered our most precious resource, certain we could appease the insatiable hunger of the ravenous powers. But even the most fervent devotion can falter before the wrath of a dying world…

What are its inspirations?

The Aztecs believed in the Legend of the Suns — that the universe had been created and destroyed four times before, and that they were now living in the fifth and final age. Sunfall takes place during one of these mythic earlier ages — a world that mirrors our own at the time of the Aztecs, yet stranger and more fantastical.

In this lost Third Age, primordial energies flow freely, empowering those skilled in magic. The jungles and marshlands are home to ferocious beasts and ancient horrors — some born of nature, others twisted by the corruption now spreading across the land.

The Aztec theme of death and rebirth permeates many aspects of the storytelling and world-building, fusing Mesoamerican beliefs, customs and religion with fantasy tropes, to make this a unique and exciting setting for a roleplaying adventure.

What makes it different from other gamebooks?

Drawing inspiration from video games like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Bloodborne, Sunfall weaves together an atmospheric world and a bleak, mythic narrative. But the heart of the experience lies in the combat — a dynamic, strategic system that captures the desperate, nail-biting intensity of melee encounters. Just like DestinyQuest, this is a gamebook that rewards cleverness, risk, and tactical play.

Sunfall will be published by Archmage Press and is scheduled to launch on Gamefound in the first quarter of next year. As of now, I’ve completed the writing of the first two books, with the aim of finishing the entire series by the end of the year.

Where are our heroes of old? Those god-born and brave, who once led us from the darkness of ignorance into the proud glory of celestial wisdom? We sink each day into shadow, not unlike the cities beneath the lake, where the drowned wail and old gods weep. Is there no hope for our redemption – no chance that we might be saved?

And what about DestinyQuest?

Don’t worry — I haven’t forgotten fans of DestinyQuest! Once Sunfall is complete, I’ll be turning my attention back to the final chapter: The Edge of Time, which will complete The Sands of Time trilogy that began with The Raiders of Dune Sea. I have lots of exciting ideas already scribbled into my journal and waiting to be unleashed once the time comes!

For the latest news and sneak peeks, be sure to join my Facebook community or subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Thanks, as always, for your support — and if you’re enjoying any of my current gamebooks, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. It really helps.

More gaming goodness is coming your way in 2026. Stay tuned!

Retail Situation Update – DestinyQuest Raiders

Thu, 16 May 2024 13:21:30 +0100

Hail adventurers!

I thought I would write a quick news update for you – largely because there has been a lot of discussion (and, as it turns out, conflicting information that I received and then relayed) about the retail release of DestinyQuest Raiders: Tides of Terror and the accompanying Combat Pad.

Now, to clarify – it was my intention to release the book/s in June, so that Kickstarter pledges could be fulfilled before the general public had a chance to get their hands on it. Unfortunately, Amazon messed that plan up. The books came into my publisher’s early (on Monday) and Amazon ‘sees’ this as stock availability, and immediately puts in orders.

I was misinformed yesterday that Amazon were halting sales. I’ve just been told today that they aren’t and are still requesting books. The process is largely automated and my publisher has tried their best to communicate with Amazon and solve this issue but to no avail. Orders have come through from Amazon for books, and if we don’t fulfil it (and cancel it), then it may affect future orders they place on Tides of Terror and the Combat Pad. Which is bad for everyone!

So essentially, Amazon are making the books available for sale right now. If Amazon are selling it, then it just makes sense to lift the June embargo (on other suppliers and independent bookshops) and make it a level playing field. So, this is going ahead – and for the UK, Tides of Terror should be appearing for sale this week from various outlets.

It may still take several weeks for the book to become available on international distributor websites, so unless overseas buyers want to pay the extra shipping from the UK, then the book is still largely going to be a June release for them.

As for Kickstarter pledges, books are getting packed on 24 May and then getting shipped out the week afterwards. So, all pledges should be in the mail by 1 June (or thereabouts).

Sorry that this hasn’t gone as smoothly as it could have, but let’s pause and remember that, in the end, two new DestinyQuest books are hitting the shelves – and whether it’s a week or a few weeks before you get your copy, in the grand scheme of things, everyone will be happily questing and battling the hordes together come mid-June!

Thank you all for your patience and support.

Let’s hope that the new spin-off series is a success so I can write and publish more. That’s the dream!

Happy adventuring!

MJW

Season of Adventure!

Wed, 01 May 2024 08:42:40 +0100

With the release of a new book imminent, the world of DestinyQuest is once again welcoming adventurers to the fold, rookies and veterans alike. The season of adventure is upon us – and with it many exciting bonuses for fans.

Yes, this month will see the physical release of my new book, Tides of Terror. This is the first of a spin off series, that takes DestinyQuest down fresh and exciting paths – introducing brand new locales and immersive encounters, as well as a dynamic party-driven narrative. Tides of Terror also launches an innovative new combat system, that allows for exciting tactical play without the need for dice or stat-management. All you need is a pencil and an eraser to battle your way through over 60 different encounters as you plunder dungeons and traverse haunted lands to save a kingdom from impending doom.

Tides of Terror will be arriving on the 20 May at my publishers – and books will then be packaged and sent out to Kickstarter backers across the world. If you missed the Kickstarter, then the new book (and the accompanying Combat Pad) is now available for pre-order for UK fans from Amazon and Troubador. If you preorder the main book from Troubador (which helps support me as the author!) then you will also receive a special collector’s bookmark, that comes with its own QR Code, giving you access to some cool loot! (Note: stock is limited so it’s first come, first served!)

The awesomeness does not end there. Throughout the month of May and June, there is a 20% discount off the Troubador DestinyQuest store, meaning that you can pick up Raiders of Dune Sea, Wrath of Ragnarok, and The World Companion, at a discount by using the discount code RAIDERS. So if you’ve been waiting on any of these titles, then now might be the time to pick one up and dive into a new adventure.

I’m also going to be uploading new videos to the DestinyQuest YouTube channel, which will take a deep dive into the paths of DestinyQuest (warrior, mage and rogue) and provide detailed tips on building the perfect hero to successfully battle your way through Raiders of Dune Sea and Wrath of Ragnarok.

Tides of Terror goes on sale at retail on 28 June. For international fans, the book will be available for pre-order via their respective Amazon (and other retailer) sites closer to the release date.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your weapons, power up your magic, and get ready for an exciting season of DestinyQuest goodness!

Happy adventuring!

MJW

The State of Things

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 20:56:53 +0100

Hey everyone. Probably that time when I should update.

Everything is going okay with progress of the new book, Tides of Terror. Sadly, it was a bit of a disappointing Kickstarter. I know there were issues and concerns because of the shipping that I had to charge, but the result is that I didn't quite get the funding I was expecting for a brand new marketed product.

Kickstarter is important for a lot of reasons. Yes, it brings in new people and also raises funds. But it is also for those, like myself who self publish, a vital means of covering the self-publishing costs (production, typesetting, artwork, printing) in an increasingly tough and expensive market as well as making a little bit that I can invest in future DQ projects.

This time around, that didn’t quite happen for me. I know a lot of people decided to hold back on the KS and wait for retail. That’s fine and I understand completely. But sadly Amazon benefits from that and I don't. I get less money per sale and that makes things tougher.

So, taking everything into account, I don't feel I can continue DestinyQuest at this point in time. I am sorry to share this news, but I need to get back on track financially before I can push on with more books (which I fully intend to do!). I have funded this franchise myself for over four years and I have done my best to keep books coming, but sadly I probably need to take a breather! I have a few "irons in the fire" (so to speak) that will certainly help with getting DestinyQuest back online - so I am staying positive!

Tides of Terror is on schedule, so don’t worry. I will be doing a full update end of next week for KS backers. Otherwise, keep fighting guys. And if you didn’t choose to support the Kickstarter, then the new book is available end of June on retail sites. Enjoy!

I am super excited for the new book. I believe it is a game-changing and genre-changing addition to the market. Let's hope it gets some attention.

Happy adventuring.

MJW

Get ready for DestinyQuest Raiders

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 14:49:30 +0100

If you’ve been following my social media and news updates, you will know that I have a new spin-off series in the works, the first title of which is coming to Kickstarter on 24 October. I thought I’d take this opportunity to get you up to speed with the info that has been shared – so you are fully prepared for day one of this exciting funding campaign!

DestinyQuest Raiders is set in the same world as my main series of gamebooks – however this has been completely (re)designed from the ground up to offer a more casual and accessible gaming experience. In Raiders you will be recruiting heroes, levelling up their abilities, and taking on hordes of monsters as you plunder dungeons and ancient ruins for legendary treasures.

This new gamebook series also introduces an innovative diceless combat system. There is no need for lots of book-keeping, number crunching or endless dice rolling in this game – instead, all you require is a pencil and an eraser in order to battle your way to victory.

Here are some links to videos and interviews on my official YouTube Channel that will help explain the game system as well as the many other exciting features of this new gamebook experience:

Main Launch Trailer

Meet the Author

How to Play DestinyQuest Raiders

Interview with Victory Condition Gaming

If you are interested in backing this project on Kickstarter, then why not sign up now via this prelaunch link – so that you will be alerted the moment the campaign goes live. As with all my campaigns, expect to unlock lots of cool extra loot as we adventure together to make this book project a reality. Also, supporting me on Kickstarter really helps me out as an author – so that I can continue to write these books and share more adventures in the future.

Hope to see you on launch day!

Happy adventuring!

MJW

Never give up - Keep questing!

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:34:37 +0100

So, this is a very personal news update. As you know, my new spin off series hits Kickstarter at the end of next month – and my previous one, The Wrath of Ragnarok, has just drawn to a close with the release of its final stretch goals.

I want to just say a few things about my journey. Obviously it has been very up and down, from the heights of getting a major book deal with Gollancz 10 years ago, to then having to survive a series of unlucky collaborations as I have pushed on alone. Each one of those could have killed the series and my enthusiasm, but oddly they just fuelled my passion even more to prove to them and others what DestinyQuest should be – what it stands for, and what it can achieve. I have never given up.

And all that is due to two things. First is tenacity. I have a belief in my core design and the series as a whole. Many people have told me at times I am stupid and foolish to write gamebooks and keep on with the writing, but I have stuck by my books – even when it has meant many sacrifices along the way.

Secondly, it’s the fan base. You guys keep me going and I never want to let you down, even when I know there are hiccups and issues. Thank you to the majority who give me such faithful support and I always strive to give it back – even at my own expense sometimes, because loyalty is a two way thing and I never take it lightly. I learn from my mistakes and always aim for perfection.

This next Kickstarter is a big deal for me. I’m putting a lot of effort and money into this, because I believe in the concept, story and series. Everything in life is a gamble – but after my personal experiences of lockdown and Covid, I learnt a valuable lesson. Never live for tomorrow – today and this moment is all that matters. You have to pursue your dreams and passions in the now because it could all be taken away in an instant. I never want to live with regrets.

Please join me on 24 October for the launch of DestinyQuest Raiders on Kickstarter. It’s a privilege to have this chance to share my passion with you once again. I hope you will join me for this ride.

You can sign up here if you would like regular updates and Kickstarter bonuses.

Happy adventuring

MJW

DestinyQuest Raiders - a new game experience

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:39:58 +0100

First off a massive thank you to the community for making The Wrath of Ragnarok (Book 5 of DestinyQuest) an astonishing success. We unlocked loads of goodies, and I can't wait to deliver this eagerly awaited book to fans in early August. I feel it is my best work so far, so I am excited to hear what players think of it. That aside... there is more special news.

If you have been following my social media, you may already be curious about a new addition/announcement. I have decided to launch a brand new DestinyQuest series, set in the same world as my other gamebooks, but will offer a fun and different experience.

I feel gamebooks stagnate. Back in 2010 I came up with a new and innovative game system that now drives my DestinyQuest series - partly because I wanted to capture that online action roleplaying experience, but also - I realised gamebooks had not evolved since the 80's Fighting Fantasy series.

In many ways that is still relevant today. I feel there is a glut of amateur gamebooks now flooding the self-publishing circuit and Kickstarter - and that is wonderful to see. It's great that this genre is still alive and kicking and finding an audience. But for me, it's always about pushing the boundaries and being innovative. I would never publish or introduce anything new to you if I didn't feel it was offering an experience you can't get anywhere else.

So... enter DestinyQuest Raiders. This is not a replacement for my existing books. I want to offer a tailored lighter experience. My main DestinyQuest books are probably more akin to a full on RPG campaign. Which I think they deliver wonderfully and people love that, because they get immersed in their character and their development, as well as the story. However, they are a time commitment and they do require a fair amount of dice-rolling and micro-management. Not something you would easily play on the move…

DestinyQuest Raiders is a new series completely designed around fun, quick accessibility. You can play this while on the train, in the car – hell, you may even try playing this while bungee jumping off a bridge (please, I so need to see that!). The concept is:

The same amazing and deep storytelling you have come to expect from the series
A completely diceless combat system, that still requires thought and strategy as you combine the abilities of your heroes to overcome the hordes of monsters set against you
Fun achievements you can earn as you progress your team, so that you can replay the book multiple times to tick all your boxes and gain new loot and bonuses

Yes, for this series I have created a unique combat system. You only need a pencil and an eraser, and nothing more. Each combat is an exciting puzzle, where you pit your wits against the strength and unique abilities of your enemies, whilst trying to reserve as much health as possible.

The books will be shorter, more ‘Fighting Fantasy’ in nature, but each one will tell a fun story in which heroes come together to overcome a great evil – and grab awesome loot along the way.

The series is also accessible enough that anyone could play it with the minimum of fuss and set up time. Perfect if you have that weird desire to bungee jump off a bridge whilst playing a gamebook. I have you covered. (I feel this is an untapped market.)

Anyway, these are early days. There is still much to do – but I wanted to share this exciting news with you, because I feel DestinyQuest is growing from strength to strength and that is thanks to the community. So, I want to offer as much awesomeness to you guys as I can as a thank you.

In the mean time… take care and happy adventuring!

MJW

Wrath of Ragnarok - now on Kickstarter!

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 11:03:46 +0000

Just a main site update to remind people that the latest DestinyQuest gamebook, The Wrath of Ragnarok, is currently funding on Kickstarter with 10 days left. Thanks to some amazing fan support we have already unlocked a host of amazing stretch goals, which include:

Five art postcards
A digital dungeon delve expansion
Three loot cards for The Raiders of Dune Sea
Three loot cards for The Wrath of Ragnarok
A Kickstarter exclusive legendary pet card

The Wrath of Ragnarok is the eagerly anticipated sequel to The Raiders of Dune Sea - and continues your hero's adventure. That means that your fully customised hero from Dune Sea can carry over into the sequel, complete with all their abilities and loot.

The new book also offers a host of new additions to the series, including the colossal and scary mythic monsters!

Head over to the Kickstarter to join the adventure and help us to unlock even more amazing goodies!

Happy adventuring

MJW

Ultimate Player Guide - Raiders of Dune Sea

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 13:56:06 +0000

From the sand-dusted tombs and ruins of the Dune Sea come fragments of fabulous lore – secrets and knowledge that will aid your hero on their voyages across the desert lands of Khitesh. Thanks to Kay Hyam’s diligent efforts, these sacred texts have finally been catalogued and combined together into a single tome – one that would even impress the grand archmage, Avian Dale.

At last, I’m proud to share the ultimate player guide for The Raiders of Dune Sea (Kay Hyam had a little help from renowned scholar and thaumaturge of the House of Wisdom, Marco Gariboldi, in putting this amazing piece of work together.) Within its pages you will find a rich and detailed guide to paths, careers, pets and minions, as well as priceless information on how to gain all those important reputation bonuses.

Explorer and scholar Kay Hyam has been hard at work - readying herself for future adventures across the Dune Sea

Like the other player guides in this series, you will also discover flowcharts for every single main story quest and side quest in the book, meaning that you can explore alternate paths and uncover that elusive loot that will help complete your ultimate hero build. (And good timing, as the sequel is on its way!)

The diligent Kay is never one to rest, so has updated all the other player guides too (see the Downloads page for links) – adding in extra info, such as a detailed list of returning characters and all their previous moments and mentions throughout the series.

The Raiders of Dune Sea is available now in paperback and eBook format from online retailers. The sequel (The Wrath of Ragnarok) is coming to Kickstarter next week – the 21 February – so be sure to check it out for awesome loot and lots of surprises.

Happy adventuring!

MJW

DestinyQuest - So where do I start?

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 20:01:38 +0000

I've noticed this question come up a lot recently and obviously with the upcoming The Wrath of Ragnarok this is something that may frequently be on many people's minds. With four books in the series (each one a huge campaign adventure) and a new one on the horizon it is understandable that those new to the series are wondering... where do I start?

There is a short answer and a longer answer. Let's go for short first. I personally would recommend starting with The Raiders of Dune Sea - Book 4 of the series. The reason being, you need no prior knowledge of the previous books and it means you can get started on your hero and your epic adventure into the Dune Sea right away... because The Wrath of Ragnarok (coming to Kickstarter next month - 21 February) is the sequel, so you get to carry your hero across from Raiders to Wrath. You are essentially linking up two books to create a legendary gamebook adventure of ridiculously epic scope!

But, what about the other books I hear you cry. Ok, let's go for a longer answer...

Well, here is the thing. The Legion of Shadow is the first in the series and was written about 10-12 years ago. So, it has a special place in my heart but it never really ticked all my boxes in its execution because I was learning my craft and perhaps somewhat naive. The game balancing was a little rough at times which I know can put some people off and the story was perhaps - at times - a little 'simple' in tone.

I listened to feedback on that book and so, The Heart of Fire (Book 2) and The Eye of Winter's Fury (Book 3) hugely improved on the formula, making combat more fun, expanding on quests and game mechanics, and making it much more accessible to the average reader/gamer. I also ramped up the story to create truly memorable encounters, characters and world lore - the latter of which can be explored further in The World Companion.

So, if you are someone who must start at the very beginning, then The Legion of Shadow will offer you many ridiculous hours of gaming fun - but it is a tough cookie (Dark Souls-esque) that may give a misrepresentation of the rest of the series. That said, characters from my early books do make cameos in later books - including The Raiders of Dune Sea and The Wrath of Ragnarok, so there is an argument for exploring those early books for the complete experience if you like to know every secret, uncover every Easter egg, and become a DQ super fan!

But if you are a noob to DestinyQuest then you simply can't go wrong by grabbing a copy of The Raiders of Dune Sea and getting stuck in with the action. In fact, you can literally do that right now by playing a sample adventure with quick start rules, designed to get you up and running in no time.

The DestinyQuest series is rich in character and lore - and in an ideal world I would love everyone to play all of the books. But I know that people have time commitments and other pressures that make playing through a huge solo campaign sometimes difficult - so I understand people need to be selective.

So, yeah - I would certainly suggest starting with The Raiders of Dune Sea... especially as I would welcome your support for the upcoming sequel, which I promise will blow all your gamebook expectations out of the water. Check out the awesome launch trailer for a hint at the awesomeness to come!

Whatever you choose - and let's face it, this is after all 'a choose your own adventure' - remember to have fun and always have a health potion handy! :D

Happy adventuring

MJW

Ultimate Player Guide - Winter's Fury

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 16:41:29 +0000

If you're currently battling your way across the frozen tundra or icy wastes of the cold north, then help is finally at hand. Wrap yourself up in the warmth of the latest DQ player guide, which is packed with a mammoth amount of information to help you survive the worst that winter can throw at you!

Desperate to find that elusive yeti pelt? Frustrated because that final flawless emerald is nowhere to be found? Well, fear not brave adventurer - this guide has you covered. As well as the locations of every valuable item in the game, the guide also has detailed career information, annotated flow charts, a checklist of collectibles, and updated errata. There is even a guide to recurring characters and all their appearances throughout the DestinyQuest saga.

As always, I must give a big shout out and thank you to DQ super fan Marco Gariboldi who has worked tirelessly on this guide and the many others that support the books in the series.

Don't forget, Book Five of DestinyQuest (The Wrath of Ragnarok) is hitting Kickstarter next month - 21 February. The landing page for the Kickstarter is now live, so hop on over and sign up so that you can be notified the second that the Kickstarter goes live.

Trust me, you don't want to miss out. There is going to be lots of cool loot and rewards, plus exciting reveals.

Enjoy and happy adventuring!

MJW

Ultimate Player Guide - The Heart of Fire

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 17:53:12 +0000

Hello fellow adventurers!

Just a small update to notify you that I have uploaded the player guide for The Heart of Fire. This guide has been lovingly created by a devoted fan of both the English and Italian DQ community, Marco Gariboldi. It contains everything you could ever need to know on careers, equipment, and choosing your best path through each quest.

Marco has also kindly updated The Legion of Shadow guide - which now includes all the set equipment (and how to obtain it) plus the complete guide to herbs and alchemy (that plays a significant part of Act 2). So, definitely check it out as I am sure even veteran gamers might find something intriguing there!

I've also recently been interviewed by the Critical RollPlayer channel - which contains some cool info on the upcoming DQ book, plus an exciting cover reveal. More info will be coming in the new year on The Wrath of Ragnarok.

Wishing you all a safe and happy new year. I am hoping 2023 is going to be a great one for DestinyQuest - and please join me for the exciting adventure.

All the best

MJW

Mythical monsters – a colossal new addition to DestinyQuest

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 20:52:06 +0000

With each new book in the series, I try and introduce some new concepts and game mechanics to keep things feeling fresh and exciting. For the upcoming Wrath of Ragnarok, the highly anticipated sequel to The Raiders of Dune Sea, the biggest new addition is mythical monsters!

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Mike, we have fought dragons, elemental lords and even archdemons set on taking over the world. What threat could these possibly hold to make us even raise an eyebrow? Well, heroes you are in for a fun treat.

With the mythical monsters, I wanted to really create true ‘raid-style encounters’ which you might be used to if you play online games like World of Warcraft. The idea of a raid boss is that they usually move through various phases, and in each phase you are battling to lower their health while strategically dealing with their abilities and managing your health and consumables. The idea is that they test your strategy and hero build.

So, how does that translate to a pen and paper game. Well, if you have played Raiders of Dune Sea you will have already experienced the dungeon delves that require you to battle through multiple encounters to reach a ‘safe point’ and grab some loot. Mythical monsters are sort of a bite-sized chunk of that, in that they will present various combat phases. In each phase you need to whittle down their damage so you can move onto the next phase.

In each phase, you get your abilities restored – so they can be used again, but your health and other attributes carry over from one phase to the next, requiring careful management of stats to ensure you can survive.

What makes mythical monsters extra special is that they all have very unique mechanics, many of which involve visual player aids (illustrations) to manage new game concepts, combat positioning, the monster’s abilities and other cool environmental/scenario effects that play a part. So each combat will feel unique and exciting, and push what can be possible with a pen and paper gamebook.

Don’t worry, these encounters will be balanced to cater for all levels. They may be a little tough, but will be designed so that even the average player, with a bit of practice, can smash through and gain that epic loot.

The Wrath of Ragnarok will be coming to Kickstarter in February 2023. Keep that in your diary and I’ll share more info soon.

Happy (mythical) adventuring

MJW

Ultimate Player Guide – The Legion of Shadow

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 21:59:27 +0000

Thanks to the talent and dedication of one DestinyQuest superfan, I am rather proud and privileged to be able to bring you some amazing support materials to help you level up your heroes, root out all those secrets, grab that epic loot, and achieve god-level success.

An Italian fan of the gamebooks, Marco Gariboldi, has been working diligently on this guide for many months. Not only has he rigorously catalogued all the changes between the Italian edition and the English edition, but he has also produced amazing flowcharts of every single quest in the game – providing info on items, monster encounters and other secrets.

What may be of interest to readers, is the fact that the flowcharts incorporate all of the balance changes that were introduced with the Italian edition, designed for ‘quality of life’ purposes to streamline and balance the game, and make it more fun. Therefore, you can print out the flowcharts and follow them as you play, to note any changes in items and monsters that occur throughout. These changes are in red on the flowcharts, so they are easy to compare with the original. Links to the flowcharts are provided within the player guide PDF.

The player guide itself also reveals all the careers and how to unlock them, as well as their unique abilities. Marco has also meticulously recorded all of the collectible items that have been released in conjunction with the book (such as loot cards and bookmarks) so that you have a handy ‘at a glance’ guide to all of the existing items/rewards/bonuses that are available for this book.

And the fun doesn’t end there. During The World Companion Kickstarter, dedicated fans unlocked the full set of Legion of Shadow ability cards. These full colour cards are available to download and print, and provide a perfect reference to help manage your abilities during combat.

The links are on the downloads page of this website and also reproduced below:

Player guide link

Ability cards link

Hope you enjoy and happy gaming!

Let me know what you think. Guides for the other books are incoming.

Cheers

MJW

Wrath incoming – Feb 2023

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 19:58:15 +0100

Okay, it’s been a while since I updated the official site. And I do admit I kind of rely on other social media platforms these days to relay info to interested parties. But there is also something significant and lovely about charting these milestones in DQ history via the website.

Book Five of the series is nearing completion. I am around ¾ of the way through the narrative, with just a few quests left to wrap up. I intend to bring this to Kickstarter in February next year, when I am hopeful we will see a successful campaign with lots of unlocked goodies for fans.

I feel hopeful because the recent World Companion campaign appears to have garnered lots of fresh interest in the series – and I’ve also teamed up with some elite YouTubers to help spread the message about the wonders of DestinyQuest during January and February.

This is a new beginning. The Raiders of Dune Sea marked a pivotal shift in the level of my writing and game design, and marked the start of a new and exciting standalone trilogy. The next book – The Wrath of Ragnarok – is the second part of that trilogy. And is a first for DestinyQuest as you carry your hero across from The Raiders of Dune Sea straight into the new book. So, this is my new starting point for the series. Kill the past – as they say. Look to the future.

I have been conscious for a while that Dune Sea ended on a cliff hanger. So, I felt a social contract to write the next book, if only to answer the question ‘what happens next?’. Fans will not be disappointed with the rollercoaster ride of adventure that awaits them. I am so proud of the next book – the characters get deeper and more nuanced, you get to influence their paths, and the world opens up even more to your hero and your ambitions. It’s a book full of wild adventure and exciting twists and turns, that fans will love I am sure.

There are also new mechanics, including mythic monsters and companion abilities, that await to be discovered. I will be exploring these in more depth over the coming weeks.

So, please keep February in your diary folks. This is gonna be a true event and milestone in DQ history. I hope that you will be there to pledge support and witness the fun!

Happy adventuring

MJW

The World Companion is funded!

Thu, 26 May 2022 12:44:58 +0100

The DestinyQuest World Companion launched on 17 May and within four hours was successfully funded! What's more, shortly after, it was awarded a Kickstarter 'Project We Love' medal that awards certain hand-picked creative projects. That was a great honour, as this is the first Kickstarter that I have personally planned and run. The Kickstarter is running for 30 days, until 16 June.

For those who don't know, The World Companion is a guidebook to the world of DestinyQuest, providing background lore, stories, biographies and other fascinating details that will give fans and readers plenty to delve into.

Over the course of the Kickstarter, we have also managed to unlock the atlas bonus section. This adds a world map and 8 zone maps to the book, as well as 9000 words of content that provides an exciting tour of the many regions that make up the Kingdom of Valeron. This book really will be a treat for DQ fans!

The Kickstarter is also offering a number of stretch goal rewards, including art postcards and loot cards. All backers get to benefit from these amazing collectables, so if you have not had chance to pledge yet, then I urge you to do so - so you don't miss out!

You can visit the Kickstarter page here: World Companion

Hope you can join this exciting adventure!

MJW

The World Companion Kickstarter

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 17:50:53 +0100

I'm excited to announce that The World Companion will be hitting Kickstarter on 17 May at 10.00 EST (3.00 in the UK). The Kickstarter will be running for 30 days and offers a range of pledge levels to cater for different fans.

The World Companion is a special hardback collector's item, that provides the following:

A detailed history of the world, from its creation by the celestial Fates, to the current ‘end days’ of crumbling empires and war-weary kingdoms.
A comprehensive timeline that charts the key events that have shaped the world of Dormus, right up to the present-day narratives of the gamebook series.
An overview of the magic system, detailing the chaotic forces of the Shroud and the effects of its demonic taint, as well as the runic magic of the dwarves and the dangerous arts of elemental sorcery.
Exciting character stories and biographies, exploring some of the key heroes (and villains) who have influenced the DestinyQuest world, including the legendary witchfinder, Eldias Falks, and the enigmatic archmage, Avian Dale.
Detailed summaries of the main factions that vie for power and influence within the Kingdom of Valeron, from the secretive enclaves of the Arcane Hand to the scheming masters of shadow, the Nevarin.

Whether you are a fan of the DestinyQuest series or a gamemaster looking for a new and immersive setting for your homebrew roleplaying campaign, The World Companion delivers a wealth of exciting secrets and discoveries – everything you need to arm yourselves for epic adventures ahead.

This link will take you to the current Kickstarter landing page - where you can click for a notification of when the project goes live. It's also a great way to show your support!

I really hope that you can join us during the campaign. There will be various loot rewards to unlock and lots of other surprises in store!

Happy adventuring (and campaigning!)

M J W

The DestinyQuest Companion

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 19:11:17 +0000

The web of destiny is a complex weave and sometimes its myriad paths can be unfathomable to predict or second guess. Such is the way of the world of Dormus, where the DestinyQuest books are set. Fated heroes may rise and fall, but the weave will always continue to spin regardless, creating new stories and adventures.

The last few months, working on the DestinyQuest Roleplaying game has certainly felt like an exciting adventure out of a DestinyQuest novel. We had grand and lofty ambitions to create a truly unique roleplaying game. Trying to convert the complex game system from the books into a multiplayer experience was always going to be a challenge – but one we felt ready to take on. Sadly, it’s proved harder than we thought to marry the intricate ability system and game mechanics to a multiplayer combat system that felt balanced and satisfying. Through early playtesting, it became clear that a lot of work was still left to do to get the game back on track – and the release would be delayed.

It became crunch time to make a decision about the future of the project. It was at the stage where serious money and time would need to be invested to take this to the next level. As we took stock of the situation and reviewed the current state of the game, the team didn’t feel that things were coming together sufficiently to give us confidence that we could achieve our goals.

It was a tough decision, but the whole team was in agreement that it was time to end the process and move onto other projects. It was a completely amicable group decision borne out of many factors. I was disappointed, as I dearly would have loved to share a roleplaying system based on my world – and perhaps that might still happen in the future. But for now, it was time to let the project go, so the team could free up their time for other commitments.

On a more positive note, during the development process I had written hundreds of pages of campaign material, including timelines, lore, short stories, biographies and so on. Rather than having all that juicy content sitting unread on my hard drive I have decided to publish it all as ‘The World Companion’. I’m currently in talks with my publisher to bring this to fruition and I am delighted to announce that David Wyatt (who did the career artwork for the DQ website – and the original cover for Legion of Shadow) is on board to provide interior illustration. So, it should be a stunning looking and immersive book, with a lot of cool info that readers of the gamebooks are going to love.

There is also enough depth provided in The World Companion, that it could be used as a source book/campaign setting for any RPG system, such as D&D and Pathfinder – so it's still possible for gamers to delve into the world of Dormus, using an existing system and marrying it with the detailed lore provided in the book to create a cool homebrew campaign set in DestinyQuest.

So, as I said, sad news but at least there is something positive coming out of the situation for fans and readers. I am really excited for The World Companion and will share more info as it progresses – with a possible Kickstarter to help launch the project and provide some stretch goals.

I do have to thank the amazing DQ:RPG crew, headed by Josh Bixler, for such an amazing experience – we’ve had a lot of fun working on the RPG, and we look forward to seeing each other’s future projects come to fruition.

The weave of destiny continues to spin its threads. We can never guess the future, but we can be sure it will never be dull!

Happy adventuring!

MJW