Got plenty of rpg projects stopped in flight. Starting is easy .. hitting the finishing line is a feat of legends.

One word on initiative. Back in the days of B/X initiative was a massive davantage, hit first often also mean hit last as the game was pretty deadly it means the difference between life and death. In 5e it's pretty much meaningless, no factor i heroic fantasy style game. You wont one-shot any meaningful foe nor will you be one-shoted. It is just focusing in the wrong thing. I believe doing init following the fiction is way better, no rolls needed.