Ballantine Books' Del Rey imprint has acquired worldwide rights to publish original paperback novels based on Mage Knight, a game that uses figurines such as wizards and magicians to fight for control of a fantasy universe. The deal was struck with WizKids LLC, parent company of Mage Knight. Del Rey will publish six original paperbacks based on the game—three due out in 2003 and another three in 2004. The first novel, Rebel Thunder by Bill McCay, will be published next June and the second title, Dark Debts by Doranna Durgin, will be out in August.