A self-described tech specialist and Python developer has taken to Hacker News seeking feedback on an ambitious concept: an AI-driven "Life RPG" that transforms real-world self-improvement into a game-like experience complete with skill trees, adaptive quest difficulty, and personalized mentorship from an AI Game Master. The project, currently in the architecture development stage, aims to address what the developer sees as a gap in productivity tools—most task managers are "boring and dry," while games excel at motivation through clear progression systems.

How the System Works

At its core, the app uses Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to build a contextual understanding of each user's life situation. Rather than serving static to-do lists, an AI mentor adapts quest difficulty based on the user's demonstrated skill level and available context. The developer has already compiled a RAG database containing biohacking exercises tested by thousands of people, which serves as the knowledge backbone for generating personalized recommendations. Different users asking the same question receive different answers tailored to their current abilities—a departure from generic LLM responses.

Skill Trees and Personality-Based Personalization

Users progress through skill trees inspired by games like World of Warcraft or The Witcher, but customized based on personality type assessments. The developer has mapped out over 45 skills spanning categories like health, finances, and thinking, alongside more than 200 quests for leveling them up. A user profile system shows participants where they fall percentile-wise compared to others globally, adding a competitive element that mirrors the leaderboard dynamics found in traditional gaming.

Current State and MVP Questions

"I have a problem with perfectionism, where it seems like a project isn't ready for demonstration yet," the developer admitted. The architecture is being developed alongside local automation scripts, but no public prototype exists currently. They plan to launch first as a Telegram mini-app—chosen because that's where their target audience lives and monetization through Stars is straightforward—with expansion to mobile and web following later. A freemium model will offer core features free while reserving advanced capabilities for paid subscribers.

What the Developer Is Asking

The HN post explicitly requests experienced founders weigh in on three areas: what constitutes a ready-made MVP, where indie developers can find early-stage mentors or supportive communities for AI-first consumer products, and what immediate next steps a solo builder should prioritize. The developer also mentioned having contacts within their target audience ready to become first active users, along with plans to seek grants or tokens from initiatives encouraging such projects.

Key Takeaways

  • RAG-powered AI mentorship adapts quest difficulty to each user's demonstrated skill level in real-time
  • 45+ skills and 200+ quests currently mapped across health, finances, thinking, and other categories
  • Telegram mini-app planned as the first launch platform for rapid audience access and built-in monetization
  • Developer acknowledges perfectionism struggles and actively seeks feedback on MVP scope definition

The Bottom Line

This is a solid concept with more structure than most "I'll build this someday" HN posts, but the lack of a working prototype makes it hard to evaluate whether the AI mentor actually delivers better outcomes than existing habit trackers. If you're interested in advising or collaborating, the thread is live—and if you're the developer, ship something small and ugly before you lose momentum.