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Hi guys

Recently I've been playing with an idea in my head, for a campaign management tool and I need some advice.

My aim is to create a software application that helps the user to setup and maintain campaigns for miniature games, ones with large armies involved, like Warhammer 40k.

The tool will manage stuff like generating a campaign map with territories, keeping track of each players armies and casualties, and user defined rules on how the campaign should work.

I will be spending a lot of time on this project and I would like to sell it and hopefully make a profit from it.
What I would like to know is if there is a market for such a tool? Are there other applications like this already available? If so, is it a flooded market and should I even bother?

Thanks for any advice

Most of the ones I've seen have a definite RPG bend (think D&D/Pathfinder) over a miniatures one. You might look at Realm Works and Epic Words for their takes on such a thing. I'm sure others will add something. There's been a handful of smartphone apps written as well.

There was also a thing a guy was working on that was on kickstarter that used everyone's smartphones and tablets to distribute information between all the players. It managed character sheets and stuff like that as well. Unfortunately, the name escapes me at the moment, but I'm sure someone will know it.

I can't say it's a flooded market, because each of these tools does their one specific thing and does it to some degree or another. I'd have a closer look and judge that for yourself.

You should probably figure out how you're going to monetize it too before you get too wrapped into it. Ads? Subscriptions? Some other method? Donations?

Also, a bit of advice: Your UI is likely going to be the part that makes or breaks it. I've seen so many applications that do game related stuff that were unintuitive and frustrating to use to the point that they gave me little advantage over a notebook. At this point, I type my game notes in Evernote, and then attach pictures and share things accordingly. That's probably your benchmark for knowing if you're going to succeed, right there. Ask yourself: "What does using my idea get you that a piece of notebook paper or typed pages in Evernote can't do?" If you can answer that, you probably have a shot at it.

Good luck!

Great advise, thanks!

I think I'll take a stab at it and see how it goes.

I had a look at Realm Works and Epic Words, and it help a lot with giving me an idea of what to aim for.
I see what you mean with the UI, and I'll try spend a lot of time developing it.

As for monetizing, I'll probably go with selling licenses to use the application.

And about marketing. How should I get word out about the tool, once I have a working copy available? Are forums like these a good place to start, or should I look else where?