[Orion]

I've been working on a MUD for a few years now that's focused on roleplay, contributing to a story told by all the characters.

While I've been doing this, I've also been writing a novel based on the same setting, with some characters I plan to introduce when the MUD is opened for play.

It's unlikely that I'll finish the novel before I open the MUD, but I was wondering if there were any legal issues around creating a story that might be seen to be using other people's characters and ideas from a MUD that you've created, even if those characters were assigned to players by you.

I don't know much about stuff like this, but perhaps some waiver notice at the start of the game, stating that you give assent for anything you add to the story possibly being used in a book.

I figure, also, some people might like the idea of reading something similar to a game they've come to enjoy, if that becomes the case.

It's entirely possible, and probable that the events in my novel will unfold in a way that is different to what happens in the MUD, as I will want to give players the latitude to affect the story in the MUD as they like (within reasonable constraints defined by the setting.)