Dragons of a Fallen Sun

The Dragonlance universe feels so rich and detailed, but I wonder how much was planned from the start versus developed along the way. Did the characters guide the world-building or vice versa?

Sometimes the focus on diplomacy and strategy made the story feel a bit slower, but it added depth to the world. What was the intention behind including those moments amidst the action?

Dragons are such iconic fantasy creatures, but their role here feels so integral to the story's themes. I wonder if Weis drew from specific myths or created them entirely for this universe.