LoreForge
Executive Summary
Vision Statement
To become the primary resource for discovering fantasy literature with deep, environmental storytelling where readers collaboratively unpack narrative layers.
Problem Summary
Readers seeking fantasy with intricate, Soulsborne-style layered storytelling struggle to discover books matching this specific narrative approach. Existing platforms lack specialized tools for analyzing lore depth and community-driven interpretation.
Proposed Solution
A dedicated discovery platform featuring book snippets, layered lore analysis, and community theory-sharing to help readers find fantasy works with complex narrative structures similar to FromSoftware games.
Market Analysis
Target Audience
Fantasy readers (18-45) who enjoy complex worldbuilding and prefer subtle, environmental storytelling over explicit exposition. They actively participate in lore discussion communities and replay games/books to uncover hidden narratives.
Niche Validation
The source Reddit post discusses existential literature rather than fantasy discovery, providing weak direct validation. However, Soulsborne games' popularity (over 33M copies sold) demonstrates demand for layered narratives. Niche exists but requires stronger validation.
Google Trends Keywords
Market Size Estimation
Active fantasy readers participating in online communities (estimated 8M)
Core users seeking Soulsborne-style storytelling (estimated 500K)
Global fantasy book market ($1.2B) with ~15% interested in lore-heavy narratives
Competitive Landscape
Goodreads dominates discovery but lacks lore-specific features. Specialized platforms like The StoryGraph offer mood-based recommendations but not layered narrative analysis. Lore-focused communities exist on Reddit (r/Worldbuilding) but lack integrated discovery tools.
Product Requirements
User Stories
As a fantasy reader, I want to filter books by 'environmental storytelling depth' so I can find Souls-like narratives
As a lore enthusiast, I want to contribute to collaborative timeline maps so I can connect narrative fragments
As a new user, I want to see popular community theories about a book's hidden lore before reading
MVP Feature Set
Lore complexity rating system for books
User-generated annotation layer for text snippets
Theory discussion threads tied to specific lore elements
Basic lore relationship visualization (timelines/family trees)
Non-Functional Requirements
Real-time collaboration for theory development
Scalable storage for user-generated annotations
Responsive design for multi-hour lore analysis sessions
Key Performance Indicators
User-generated annotations per book
Theory collaboration session duration
Premium conversion rate from lore-heavy users
Go-to-Market Strategy
Core Marketing Message
Uncover stories where every detail matters. Find fantasy books with the layered storytelling depth you love in Souls games, and join a community that deciphers their secrets together.
Initial Launch Channels
- Targeted outreach to Soulsborne subreddits (r/fromsoftware)
- Collaboration with fantasy booktubers specializing in complex worldbuilding
- Lore analysis contests on fantasy writing forums
Strategic Metrics
Problem Urgency
Medium
Solution Complexity
High
Defensibility Moat
Community-generated content creates network effects. Proprietary lore analysis framework could become industry standard.
Source Post Metrics
Business Strategy
Monetization Strategy
Freemium model: Free basic access with premium features ($5/month) including advanced lore mapping tools, exclusive author annotations, and theory collaboration spaces.
Financial Projections
Year 1: 5K users → $25K MRR; Year 3: 50K users → $250K MRR with premium conversion at 5%
Tech Stack
Node.js with Express API for handling user-generated content relationships
PostgreSQL for relational data + Neo4j for mapping lore connections
Next.js with React for dynamic lore visualization components
Google Books API for metadata, OpenAI for text analysis, Stripe for payments
Risk Assessment
Identified Risks
- Niche audience size may limit growth
- Complex UI could deter casual users
Mitigation Strategy
- Expand to adjacent genres (sci-fi/mystery) with layered storytelling
- Implement progressive complexity in lore tools