[mikkelpaulson]

initiative.sh[0], a web-based text interface for creative D&D play. After a promising response on HN[1], I had hoped that I might be able to monetize the project, but traffic has since crashed to almost nothing. I would say that after six months of full-time development it is about halfway to being complete as a freemium product, so instead I've opted to open-source it.[2]

It turns out that the challenge with launching a freemium product is that you need something that's both useful as a free tool while also having a compelling value-add for paid users. That's a lot for one person to build. I don't think I'll be aiming for that monetization strategy with future projects.

I have to confess that I'm (barely) missing the qualifying income bracket - some kind soul is supporting me for $5/mo on buymeacoffee.[3]

[0] https://initiative.sh/

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29106581

[2] https://github.com/initiative-sh/initiative.sh/

[3] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/initiative

[e12e]

Interesting idea. Might be able to pivot into a world-/knowledge-builder of sorts. Plug in gpt3 or Ai on the generating side; add links between nodes and graph visualization... And it could be useful not just as a GM tool, but for research for creative writing - or even for a wiki-like system (assuming another wiki-like mode for view edit).

I'll try and play with it to see if it fits me for writing a small campaign I'm starting.

[DeltaCoast]

Nice work! Saw your previous post about jumping to doing your own thing full time in 2021, kudos on shipping.

[mikkelpaulson]

Thanks, I appreciate the support.