The SAGA System has a more narrative focused gameplay style than AD&D and uses cards to determine the effects of actions.

In 1996, Dragonlance was converted to TSR's new SAGA System with the publication of the Dragonlance: Fifth Age roleplaying game. However, the Dragonlance fiction line 'remained wildly successful' and included 'some 60 novels and anthologies' 'TSR wanted to bring those fiction fans back into the roleplaying fold if they could, and so a new team was set to work to create a new Dragonlance game'. In 1993, the product line for AD&D was canceled. When AD&D was updated to the 2nd edition in 1989, the Dragonlance campaign setting was updated as well. The first Krynn setting guide, Dragonlance Adventures, would follow in 1987. Weis and Hickman felt this was constraining and made the novel feel too episodic, so they reversed the process for the next books and completed the novels before the related modules were written. This novel was written after the completion of the first Dragonlance game modules. Then in November 1984, Dragons of Autumn Twilight was published. The first module, Dragons of Despair, was published in March 1984. They wrote the five chapters over a weekend and were given the job to write the accompanying novels based on that. At this point it was suggested that Hickman and Margaret Weis, an editor in TSR's book department who had become involved with the project, ought to write the books. Originally an external writer was hired, but the design group found themselves more and more disillusioned with his work. Later in the development process it was decided that a trilogy of fantasy novels would be released with the modules. The original group included Tracy Hickman, Harold Johnson, Larry Elmore, Carl Smith and Jeff Grubb. The project was then developed, under the code name 'Project Overlord' to plan the series. When this plan reached then head of TSR Gary Gygax, it fitted well with an idea he had considered of doing a series of 12 modules each based on one of the official Monster Manual dragons.

In 1982, Tracy proposed at TSR a series of three modules featuring evil dragons. As they drove from Utah to Wisconsin so Tracy could take up a job with TSR in 1981, they discussed this idea. The Dragonlance game project began with Tracy and Laura Hickman, and the idea of a world dominated by dragons. Player's Guide to the Dragonlance Campaign

3.5 dragonlance campaign setting pdf