TEXT: Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 1
  CONTENTS
  Roleplaying in the Firefly Universe
  Reference – Groups
  Reference – Locations, Planets & Moons
  Reference – Vessels & Vehicles
  Reference – Weapons
  Reference – Tech
  Firefly and Generic
  Chinese References
  Mayonnaise For Firefly
  Mayonnaise RPG Sheet
  Roleplaying by Agreement
  Version 0.7a
  Credits
  Firefly is a creation of Joss Whedon, copyright
  and trademark by Fox Television, All Rights
  Reserved.
  Firefly RPG based on notes from discussions at
  www.fireflyfan.net, other RPG development by
  Max Slowik and developed by Joe Coleman.
  HERO™ and FUZION™ are trademark by their
  respective creators.  No claims are main
  against the proper copyright and trademark
  owners.  This document is for non-commercial
  distribution only.
  Firefly RPG Version 0.6a is provided free to the
  web and permission is granted for non-
  commercial duplication and reproduction for
  gaming groups, provided it is duplicated as a
  complete file and not edited without
  permission.
  Contact:  radiojoe@ispwest.com
  ROLE PLAYING NOTES FOR
  THE FIREFLY UNIVERSE
  The appearance of FIREFLY in
  2002 was a breath of fresh air in the
  science fiction scene.  Breaking free of
  the tradition of latex layered aliens and
  sterile societies in a formless future,
  Firefly offered a grittier view of a
  human frontier that had to reach back
  into the simpler technologies of the
  Earth frontiers.
  It has been left vague – “Earth got
  used up…” can mean many things.  The
  technology of terraforming world is
  clearly not perfect so you have a
  spectrum of colonial worlds ranging
  from plague infested rat holes to clearly
  privileged worlds with all the latest
  advantages of technology.
  Language has fallen to a 19th
  Century level of English, presumably
  because of a shift in the cultural
  importance of mechanics and science
  over literature and grammar.  A pidgin
  of Mandarin and English is the norm
  with the speakers able to pick and
  choose according to the best phrase to
  suite the moment.
  The exact nature of the firefly drive
  for FTL travel has never been
  explained, and any explanation would
  be as fanciful as pixie dust – it works,
  use it and move on.
  From the first episodes I saw Firefly
  as a rich world for role playing.  I never
  liked aliens – 99% of are transparent
  analogs of familiar peoples (and usually
  racist versions of those familiar
  cultures).  Humans were the good
  guys, humans were the bad guys.  That
  was easy to understand and follow.
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 2
  Fashion became a comfortable
  blend of looking backwards for
  something that was founded, and
  scavenging the leftovers of the current
  mix of races, religions and cultures.
  I can’t help but thinking the mess
  on the Firefly was one of the cheapest
  sets to dress in the history of science
  fiction (and I say that with some
  affection for the job they did).
  The stage is larger and more than
  one world may be involved in a plot,
  but you can basically step into the
  Firefly universe and find a comfortable
  place to spend some time.
  For the gaming aspects, there is
  enough conflict to fuel hundreds of
  adventures and campaigns.  There are
  dozens of choices for lifestyles and
  options for character development.
  What I tried to do is come up with a
  simple, yet familiar, gaming engine that
  focused on basic mechanics for
  knowledge, actions and tools (including
  weapons).  I enjoy games that focus in
  individual initiative and freedom rather
  than the confines of a massive rules set
  or a dictatorial gamemaster.
  The subset of older 3d6 systems is
  point 
  based, 
  offering 
  maximum
  flexibility for building your player
  character, but is reduced enough to
  avoid long arguments on what is
  allowed or not allowed.  If the GM and
  Player agree, it is allowed.  If they do
  not agree, it is not allowed.
  This game also provides for
  elements of Player control – the ability
  to spend Luck points to push a failed
  roll to success (which is a feature in
  many gaming systems) and Morale,
  which can be spent to have major
  effects on the action, including buying
  additional actions in key combats,
  buying “flashbacks” to provide a key
  prop or information your character
  could have reasonably had but which it
  didn’t occur to set up in advance.
  Above all, it is intended to be fun.
  If it isn’t fun, it isn’t a good game.  If
  you have fun, it is a good game.
  To improve the odds of having fun,
  I have a little philosophy I like to get
  before my players to make sure we are
  all on the same page.
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 3
  R E F E R E N C E S
  THE ANGLO-SINO ALLIANCE
  An interstellar political body that
  established a hegemony over the
  civilized worlds and defeated the
  Independent Faction.
  Apparently formed of the merger of
  England and China.
  (The script for "Serenity" states the
  IAV Dortmunder was emblazoned with
  the "flag of the AngloSino Alliance.")
  INTERPOL
  A law enforcement body within the
  Alliance.
  The commander of the I.A.V.
  Dortmunder orders an ensign to contact
  Interpol and put out an all-points-
  bulletin on an unidentified Firefly-class.
  ("Serenity")
  INDEPENDENT FACTION
  A body opposed to the AngloSino
  Alliance in the Unification War. Soundly
  defeated at Serenity Valley on Hera in
  2511.
  REAVERS
  Although they are savages Reavers
  do employ a wide variety of tactics.
  Reavers like to spread fear and
  confusion they keep their activities low
  key.
  In space Reavers target poorly
  defended people and cargo transport
  vessels. They do this by catching the
  vessel with a Magnetic-Grappler. Once
  on board Reavers quickly subdue the
  passengers and commence on the
  raping, murdering, eating, and sowing.
  Once that's done they string up the
  bodies in a place were they can be
  found by rescue ships. When they leave
  they sometimes leave a trap attached
  to the haul of the ship to cripple any
  rescue ships unaware.
  On a planet, Reavers target
  settlements without an abundance of
  defense. After raping, murdering,
  eating, and sowing Reavers burn the
  settlement to the ground. Most of the
  time Reavers stick to their hunting
  territories; however, over the past few
  years the Reavers have been expanding
  from their territories. This is likely
  caused by the depletion of food sources
  as settlers steer clear of their
  territories.
  The incarnation of a nightmare. To
  the people of the Core Planets Reavers
  are campfire tales and bedtime stories;
  however, to the people of the Border
  Planets and Colonies Reavers are very
  much real. Reavers are described as
  men that went insane at the edge of
  space and became savage. They have
  stared into the void and became what
  they saw... nothing. They gave into
  their primal nature and all that was
  civilized was lost to the void.
  A Reaver is a cannibalistic human
  in space that rapes, eats and then sows
  its victim’s skin into its clothing.
  Reavers move in small groups on any
  space ship that will carry them. Moving
  from settlement to settlement and to
  what ever is between, Reavers attack
  the relatively defenseless and isolated.
  Reavers employ many tactics that
  suggest 
  they 
  still 
  have 
  their
  intelligence.
  Reavers are like wild animals with
  the 
  opposable 
  thumbs. 
  Reavers
  desecrate their flesh with any object
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 4
  they can find whether it is with metal,
  glass, or plastic along with this they
  split their tongs down the middle. They
  typically sow their victim's flesh into
  clothing, in a barbaric trophy display.
  They use their un-natural brute force
  abilities to kill their prey, sometimes
  with the help of sharp instruments. A
  Reaver will always return to a place
  they are most familiar with.
  REAVER TACTICS
  Out of date vessel that’s extenders
  are not braced, favored by older
  farmers. 
  Mentioned 
  in 
  Kaylee’s
  conversation with the gentlemen of the
  party. (Shindig.)
  ACADEMY, THE
  The special school River attended
  that experimented on her brain. Simon
  comforts River after her bad dream.
  (Train Job.)
  BATHGATE ABBEY
  An abbey Book visits. Mal tells
  Jayne he could be with Book, when he
  complains. (Ariel.)
  BLUE SUN
  A company that sells food products
  and possibly more. Blue sun logos are
  on food cans and an advertisement.
  The motto from their commercial
  states, Live life with Blue Sun. (Ariel.)
  CADRIC POND
  The place where Mal and Atherton
  duel on Persephone. The porter
  announces this after Mal punches
  Atherton. (Shindig.)
  CANTON
  A factory settlement on Higgins’
  Moon where Jayne is a folk hero. A
  lackey tells the Magistrate that Jayne’s
  back. (Jaynestown.)
  CARRION HOUSE/SCRAP SHOP
  Outlaws set these facilities up and
  capture space ships with a Net. Used to
  strip parts off space ships or just steal
  the whole ship. The names Book gives
  for the facilities. (Our Mrs. Reynolds.)
  CENTRAL AUTHORITY
  Judicial courts of the Alliance. Mal
  was to be remanded to this authority
  by order of Commander Harken.
  (Bushwhacked.)
  COMPANION GUILD
  Legalized 
  and 
  regulated
  prostitution is run through the guild
  houses. 
  (Mentioned 
  in 
  several
  episodes.)
  EAVESDOWN DOCKS
  A part of the slums on Persephone
  where ships land. Listed at the bottom
  of the screen when the crew lands on
  Persephone. (Serenity.)
  HANCOCK
  A city in the Georgia System, the
  city where Mal and Zoë got on the
  train. (Train Job.)
  IMAGING SUITE
  A room in a civilized hospital where
  the 3D Neuro-Imager is located. While
  not mentioned by Simon, Mal orders
  Jayne to get the Doc and River here.
  (Ariel.)
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 5
  KOWLAN FEDERAL BASE
  Closer 
  to 
  Jiangyin 
  than
  Persephone. Badger wants his share of
  Mal’s smuggling proceeds delivered
  here. Zoë mentions this to Mal. (Safe.)
  MAIDEN HOUSE
  Villages set these up to trade their
  daughters off during deals and the like.
  Regulated with religion, the women are
  taught to be submissive to the rats
  they’re traded to. Saffron mentions this
  to Mal during that naked and articulate
  scene. (Our Mrs. Reynolds.)
  MEDACAD
  Medical school that Simon attends.
  Mentioned during Simon’s explanation
  after the discovery of River on the ship.
  (Serenity.)
  NEW DENSMIA
  City on Beaumonde. Inara sets her
  arrival time for her Clientele. (Our Mrs.
  Reynolds.)
  NEW KASMIR
  A battle took place out side this
  city during the war; Mal and Zoë were
  in that battle. Mentioned in a
  conversation on why Mal and Zoë cut
  their apples. (War Stories.)
  PARADISO
  Mining city in the Georgia System
  has problems with Bowden’s Malady.
  The city where the stolen medical
  supplies where headed. (Train Job.)
  SERENITY VALLEY
  Located on Hera one of the last
  and bloodiest battles of the war
  happened here, like Gettysburg during
  our Civil War. Mentioned while Mal is
  being interrogated and Zoë’s conversa-
  tion with Simon. (Bushwhacked and
  Unaired Pilot.)
  SKYPLEX
  Niska’s private space station.
  Mentioned in Mal’s conversation with
  Inara. (Train Job and War Stories.)
  SOUTHDOWN ABBEY
  A less prestigious abbey possibly
  on Persephone, Book studied here.
  Mentioned in Book and Kaylee’s
  conversation. (Serenity.)
  ST. LUCY'S HOSPITAL
  A major hospital in Ariel City.
  Serenity’s crew raids this hospital.
  (Ariel.)
  TRIPLEX
  Shopping mall in Ariel City. Kaylee
  complains why she couldn’t be sent to
  shop here. (Ariel.)
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 6
  PLANETS
  ATHENS
  Border planet with at least four
  moons. Derived from the conversation
  when Mal tells the crew and passengers
  they will be making a side trip.
  (Serenity.)
  BEAUMONDE
  A wealthy planet. Serenity’s crew
  was headed here. Mal tells Inara this
  during the celebration on Triumph. (Our
  Mrs. Reynolds.)
  BERNADETTE
  Bushwhacked settlers left from
  here. 
  Heard 
  when 
  the 
  Alliance
  Crewman is 
  talking to 
  Harken.
  (Bushwhacked.)
  BOROS
  Civilized planet has a more strict
  alliance presence than Persephone.
  Mentioned during a debate on where
  the crew should sell their stolen cargo.
  (Serenity.)
  EZRA
  Planet Mal and Wash are captured
  on. Mal says their coming up on this
  planet during the opening sequence.
  (War Stories.)
  GREENLEAF
  Civilized planet with advanced
  medical facilities. Wash complains it
  should be an eighteen-hour trip instead
  of a better half of a week to get here in
  Out of Gas. While looking for medical
  help for Book Wash again mentions this
  planet. (Out of Gas and Safe.)
  HERA
  Serenity Valley is located here.
  Harken fills us in on some of Mal’s
  history. (Bushwhacked.)
  JIANGYIN
  Border planet where hill folk kidnap
  people they need. Warrick Harrow's
  cows where delivered here. Mal
  identifies the planet and Wash finds out
  that the hill folk kidnap people. (Safe.)
  NEWHALL
  Bushwhacked 
  settlers 
  where
  headed here. Heard when Alliance a
  Crewman is 
  talking to 
  Harken.
  (Bushwhacked.)
  OSIRIS
  Core planet, Simon was a med
  student here and worked as a trauma
  surgeon. (Objects in Space.)
  PAQUIN
  Serenity’s crew has work here.
  Mentioned in the flashback where we’re
  introduced to the less innocent Kaylee
  in the engine room. (Out of Gas.)
  Might be spelt differently.
  PERSEPHONE
  Civilized planet with a slum
  population. Mentioned while landing on
  the planet and written at the bottom of
  the screen. (Shindig and Serenity.)
  SANTO
  Bar fight happens here after Mal
  robs a slaver. Mentioned in Wash and
  Zoë’s conversation before arriving on
  Persephone. (Shindig.)
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 7
  SHADOW
  Mal’s birthplace, his Mom owned a
  large ranch here. Mentioned in Mal’s
  conversation with Saffron. (Our Mrs.
  Reynolds.)
  SIHNON
  Core planet where Inara was born,
  it has a Companion Guild. Mentioned in
  Inara’s conversation with a client.
  (Serenity.)
  TRIUMPH
  Elder Gomman’s group of squatters
  where here. Zoe is letting off steam to
  Wash before Saffron’s betrayal. (Our
  Mrs. Reynolds.)
  MOONS
  HIGGINS' MOON
  Major export is mud and building
  supplies, Canton is located here. Heard
  in Simon’s conversation with the
  mudder foreman. (Jaynestown.)
  ITA
  S.S. Walden was returning from a
  savage operation going on here. The
  Captain of the Walden admits this to
  Mal. (Out of Gas.)
  WHITEFALL
  4th Athenian moon, Patience owns
  a large percentage of it. Mentioned
  when Mal decides to sell to Patience.
  (Serenity)
  UNKOWN MOON
  Appeared in Train Job, Mal starts a
  bar fight here on Unification Day. Has a
  large crater blasted into it.
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 8
  VESSELS
  80-10
  Same vessel as the 80-04 just with
  different plating, the manufacturing
  company pulled a quick one on its
  customers. Mentioned in Kaylee’s
  conversation with the gentlemen of the
  party. (Shindig.)
  BRUTUS
  A ship docked at the Eavesdown Docks.
  The Captain of the Brutus tried to get
  Book to take a ride on his ship.
  (Serenity.)
  CRUISER
  Mammoth space ships employed by
  the Alliance, literally think fortress that
  is able to move on its own. The crew of
  Serenity has run into three of these
  ships, but only two are named.
  (Serenity, Bushwhacked, and Safe.)
  DERELICTS
  1 Converted cargo hauler or a shot
  ranged scow. Retrofitted to carry
  passengers, typically bought from
  auctions and redesigned to provide a
  one-way ticket to a newly terraformed
  planet or moon. Wash defines the ship
  make and Zoe tells us their purpose.
  (Bushwhacked.)
  2 An Alliance Carrier. Serenity's
  Crew loots this ship's hold of its high
  grade food bars. (Serenity.)
  FAST BURN ROCKET SHUTTLE
  Type of shuttle typically equipped
  on space stations. Book describes this
  from burn tracks on Ezra. (War
  Stories.)
  FIREFLY CLASS
  Mid book transport with a standard
  radio and accelerator core, Serenity is
  an Aught Three, full class code being
  03-k64-Firefly. River gives the textbook
  description 
  of 
  Serenity’s 
  ship
  classification. (Train Job.)
  GUN SHIPS
  A vessel the size of a standard
  shuttle, similar to fighter planes of now.
  Equipped on Alliance Cruisers and
  Bases used to carry out strikes on
  fortified positions and to ring in un-co-
  operative ships. (Serenity.)
  I.A.V. DORTMUNDER
  Alliance Cruiser that stumbles upon
  Serenity salvaging wreckage and falls
  for the Cry Baby ruse. (Serenity.)
  I.A.V. MAGELLAN
  The Alliance Cruiser where Book
  gets his wounds treated, positioned an
  hour from Jiangyin. (Safe.)
  JUBAL EARLY'S SHIP
  A small vessel just bigger than a
  standard shuttle. Jubal’s ship was most
  likely top of the line. His ship was
  augmented with weapons, two rotate-
  able cannon type weapons on the
  forward fins. He was somewhat
  perturbed that River was in the ship
  and warned her not to touch any
  buttons. (Objects in Space.)
  LUXURY LINERS
  Like Cruise Ships of today Luxury
  Liners transfer people between planets
  and for vacations. Rooms on the ships
  go at exuberant prices attracting the
  wealthy, Companions ship out with
  these ships for that very reason. Flashy
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 9
  and big the Liners are confined to the
  Core Planets for the safety of its
  passengers. 
  They're 
  seen 
  when
  Serenity lands on Persephone and
  referenced to in a flashback when Inara
  joins Serenity’s crew. (Serenity and Out
  of Gas.)
  PARAGON
  Fancy space ship docked at the
  Eavesdown Docks, ship shakes because
  it doesn’t have stabilizers. Described in
  a cut scene between Kaylee and Book.
  (Unaired Pilot.)
  PERSONNEL CARRIER
  Just what the name suggests it to
  be. It’s identifiably a large-scale space
  ship and worth diverting resources to
  rescue immediately. The Captain of the
  Dortmunder diverts his attention to
  rescuing this ship verses capturing
  Serenity, part of the Cry Baby ruse.
  (Serenity.)
  S.S. WALDEN
  Private salvage space ship. Comes
  across the crippled Serenity. (Out of
  Gas.)
  SERENITY
  Malcolm Reynolds’ Firefly Class
  vessel, named after the battle of
  Serenity Valley, 
  a 
  durable and
  dependable space vessel like the
  Millennium Falcon in Star Wars. (Every
  episode.)
  TRANS-U
  Out of service space ship being
  used by Reavers. (Serenity.)
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 10
  VEHICLES
  AIR TANKS
  A hover tank. Twenty squads of
  air-tanks augmented the Independent
  Faction's sixteen brigades on Hera at
  Serenity Valley.
  AMBULANCE SHIP
  Like Ambulances of today, only it
  flies. Salvaged from a junkyard for use
  in a capper. (Ariel.)
  MULE
  ATV nicknamed the mule, used for
  cargo transport. (Used in a few
  episodes.)
  TRAIN
  Effective 
  mode 
  of 
  mass
  transportation on less technologically
  advanced planets. Most likely in the
  period 
  before 
  large 
  cities 
  are
  established (Like Persephone and
  Ariel.) and after the initial settling
  process ends. (Train Job.)
  WAGON
  A large wooden cart of varying
  dimensions that serves as a mode of
  transportation for the poor and settlers.
  Usually pulled by the labor of animals,
  i.e. horses, mules, oxen.
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 11
  WEAPONS
  54-R SNIPER RIFLE
  Top of the line sniper rifle used by
  Niska’s men. Shepard Book describes
  this weapon from just the wounds of
  dead men. (War Stories.) [For Game
  as Medium Rifle]
  ALLIANCE ASSAULT RIFLE
  Standard-issue bullpup longarm of
  the Anglo-Sino Alliance.
  Often seen in the hands of Alliance
  troops.
  (The prop for this weapon is the
  RSAF L-85 Enfield Rifle - the current-
  issue weapon of UK forces.)  [For
  Game as Large Rifle]
  ALLIANCE PISTOL
  The standard sidearm for officers
  of the Anglo-Sino Alliance.
  Cmdr. Harken was seen with this
  weapon in "Bushwacked."
  (The prop for this weapon is a
  Beretta 92 series autoloader - featuring
  a blued slide mated to a stainless
  frame. This is the current-issue weapon
  of the US military among others.)  [For
  Game as Medium Slug Pistol]
  ALLIANCE SUBMACHINEGUN
  An SMG in service with the Anglo-
  Sino Alliance Military.
  Often seen in the hands of Alliance
  troopers.
  (The prop for this weapon is a
  Heckler and Koch MP-5SD3 - a common
  SMG in police and military service. It
  features a integral suppressor.)  [For
  Game as Medium Rifle with autofire]
  GRIZWALD
  A pressure sensitive grenade the
  size of a battery. Described by Zoe at a
  table discussion on why Mal and Zoe
  cut their apples instead of just biting
  into them. (War Stories.)  [For Game
  as x4 Damage]
  HOB RODS
  A weapon employed by the Agents
  with blue hands. A small rod-like device
  the width of an average hand, that
  when activated the two ends extend
  out ward. This weapon causes the
  target of organic origin to bleed
  profusely 
  from 
  its 
  orifices 
  and
  fingernails. With in a few seconds the
  target’s blood supply is now a puddle
  on the floor. Seen in Ariel. (Hands of
  Blue, HoB.) [For Game as x3 Damage,
  no Buffer, straight to suffer.]
  INDEPENDENT FACTION ASSAULT
  RIFLE
  A bull-pup configuration rifle
  utilized by Independents, including Sgt.
  Mal Reynolds, at the Battle of Serenity
  Valley.
  Seen in the hands of Mal during
  the opening credits of all episodes of
  "Firefly."
  (The prop of this weapon is a
  FAMAS assault rifle, a weapon in
  service with the French military,
  although it is being supplanted with an
  improved version with an enlarged
  trigger guard.) [For Game as Medium
  Rifle]
  SONIC RIFLES
  Advancement in non-lethal Law
  Enforcement weapons. The weapon
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 12
  emits a low-pitched sound wave with
  enough force to drive a big man to the
  ground. The weapon seems to stun for
  a few seconds as well allowing the
  officer to handcuff the suspect. The
  weapon is available only to core planet
  Marshals. (Ariel.)  [For Game as Large
  Taser]
  VERA
  Callahan full-bore auto-lock,
  customized trigger, and double-
  cartridge thorough gauge. Introduced
  when Jayne tries to trade his best gun
  to Mal for Saffron. (Our Mrs. Reynolds.)
  [For Game as Large Rifle]
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 13
  TECH
  CORTEX
  Closest comparison is an Internet
  like system. (In just about every
  episode.)
  CREDITS
  Standard unit of currency. (In just
  about every episode.)
  GENSEED
  A type of genetic crop seed a part
  of the Hard Subsidies package.
  Identified while looting the derelict
  ship. (Bushwhacked.)
  HARD SUBSIDIES
  An expensive package of supplies
  that consist of genseed, protein, and
  crop supplements. Alliance issued these
  to citizens who volunteer to settle
  newly terraformed planets and moons.
  Mal defines the cargo of the derelict
  before finding the secret the ship holds.
  (Bushwhacked.)
  IDENT-CARD
  Flimsy plastic like card that stores
  personal information electronically.
  (Only specifically referenced to in Safe.)
  INTERPOL
  Military/Police form of Internet and
  message board. When the captain of
  the Dortmunder orders an A.P.B. put
  out on a Firefly Class Vessel.
  (Serenity.)
  PLATINUM
  Another unit of currency not widely
  used. Simon first gives the price of
  medicine in this unit then switched to
  credit when he got dumb looks. (Ariel.)
  TELEPHONIX
  Land based telecommunications
  system with video. Seen when Jayne
  makes a call from ST. Lucy’s Hospital.
  (Ariel.)
  WAVE
  An audio-visual transmission sent
  over the Cortex, like a video e-mail.
  (Mentioned in several episodes.)
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 14
  Chinese from Firefly
  With additional Manadarin
   (Portions of this document were distilled from FireFlyFan.Net discussions)
  Historically, the Chinese language
  has seven major dialects, Mandarin
  being the only one in the north (north
  of the Yangtze river) and the six other
  in the south. However, the writing
  system for all Chinese dialects are the
  same, that’s why they are refered to as
  dialects and not languages even though
  the pronunciation is as different as
  Spanish is to Italian. It wasn’t until the
  1950s that the Communists decided to
  develop the Jiantizi, a simplified form of
  Hanzi, or Chinese characters, as
  opposed to the traditional Fantizi.
  However, not ALL the characters were
  simplified, only the more complicated
  ones, therefore, one whose accustomed
  to Fantizi can pretty much guess on
  Jiantizi base on context.
  Anyway, so no matter what dialect
  you speak, you write the same way.
  Jiantizi is used on mainland China and
  Singapore. Fantizi is used in Taiwan,
  Hong Kong, and most oversea Chinese.
  However, both Fantizi and Jiantizi are
  taught in many universities around the
  world.
  Cantonese is, as you stated, derived
  from Canton, and to add to that, it is
  spoken by the vast majority of Chinese
  émigrés due to the coastal location of
  the province and the Diaspora that
  happened due to political, economic,
  and climactic situations. Many of the
  Chinese emigrants from China were
  poor and undereducated, but there
  were also a class of scholars and
  professionals that moved about in the
  world (in fact, for the Chinese
  bourgeoisie and upper classes, of which
  all provinces had, it was rather
  standard to send their children to
  foreign countries for an education) and
  were allowed to come in during the
  Chinese Exclusion Act in the U.S. The
  reason that the majority of émigrés
  were Cantonese and poor may have
  lead to the appearance that the dialect
  itself was rooted in the poor, when in
  actuality, you can have very wealthy
  and educated Cantonese speakers in
  China, and in Viet Nam, Canada, etc.
  who come from the middle and upper
  classes. Interestingly enough, the
  wealthy and well-educated doctors last
  name 
  can 
  be 
  construed 
  as
  Cantonese(Tam), although it may be a
  bit ambiguous (like the way Lee
  appears in several cultures).
  Mandarin, however, is the common
  tongue of China, being the national
  language and so is used for official
  business. Mandarin speakers often
  appear snobbish about their dialect
  because of its stature in the country--
  somewhat similar to the way people in
  the U.S. have a standardized way of
  speaking (most of what we hear in the
  media in the States) and hold a mild
  prejudice against those with a southern
  accent (those who speak that way are
  thought to be less educated rednecks).
  I think as mentioned by another
  poster, the mix of dialects was more by
  accident (and lack of more thorough
  knowledge of Chinese and its dialects)
  than anything representing a class
  distinction, although if it had been true,
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 15
  I think it would have been fascinating.
  Why I think Chinese is spoken in
  the future is because there are so damn
  many Chinese people on the planet (I
  think were the most populous?) that it
  eventually influenced what became, for
  sci fi convenience or proposed reality,
  the dominant language of English
  (which already has quite a knack for
  incorporating foreign words into its
  vocabulary). The idea is similar to the
  street language in Blade Runner, which
  was a mix of English, Japanese, and
  Spanish (and possibly Chinese, I
  forget).
  Now, the lightning bug up my ass
  is, where are the Asians on the show? I
  get so tired of Asian-influenced sci fi
  with no human Asian presence. The
  world of Firefly uses Chinese, the
  Romulans wear kimonos, the Jedi are
  samurai, the Matrix is written in
  Japanese, the Company in Aliens uses
  Japanese on its hardware. Lets see
  some celestial bodies, eh?
  Do not think you are learning
  conversational Chinese from these
  phrases.  The Chinese as pronounced in
  the show will get you confused looks
  with most Chinese-speakers, but it is a
  hint in the direction of playing a
  character in a heavily Chinese-
  influenced universe.
  ai ren = beloved
  aiyah .= oh no
  ban din = fool “stupid egg”
  bao .= white, meat-filled bun
  bao bay.= dear or precious.
  be wun gwa pee.= nose in the air like he never
  smelled a fart.
  biao-tze = cousin or nephew?
  bing luh = sick
  bizui = shut up.
  boo ke chee = you’re welcome
  boo shee shin dzai = not now
  boo yoo wen = not far
  boo-tai jung tzahng duh = literally doesn’t swear
  much
  bù mingan liúmáng = insensative lout?
  cha = tea
  ching = please
  ching ja = police
  ching zie lie ee bay ng ka pei = one more cup of
  that brand please
  ching-wah tsao duh liou mahng - frog-riding
  bastard  ching-wah = frog tsao duh = riding (or
  sitting)  liou mahng = bastard
  choo-sheng = beast (in mandarin, this is like
  saying vermin in english)
  chu shih shen-muh = what is this
  chur ni-duh.= yeah, you wish.
  da bianhua = big change
  dabian hua = shit talk haha... :-)
  dah bien hua. = such a big change/suprise
  dah bien hua.= talking crap
  dan nang  = im almost certain that i do  note:
  should be pronounced danh ran
  de .= representing posession
  dhu pee-goo =pigs ass to me...
  doh = all
  dong ma? = understand?
  dou = all
  dou gai si: dou = also/too
  dyen shin = dessert
  dzai jyen = good bye
  dzai na lee = where is…?
  fang-tzang fong-kwong duh zi.= giving off light
  fay fay d’pian. = you saw it wrong.
  fei fei.= (fly fly or fat/chubby)
  fei hua.=  waste of words: nonsense (literally, crap
  talk)
  fei-oo.=  fei-oo means waste or junk.
  gai si = should die
  gai: = should, deserve to.
  ge-ge - big brother
  go se =. dog shit.
  go tsao de = expert.
  gorram = goddamn (slang)
  gu nian = young girl
  gu nian zhong de gu nian = a woman among girls,
  an outstanding girl
  guai = devil or what the hell
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 16
  guen dan = get lost
  gwan = closed
  gwon nee ju jee du shu = mind your own
  business/affairs.
  hoe-tze duh ur-tse could be retarded son
  hun gwey = very expensive
  hun how = very well
  hwei lai = come again
  hwin dan which means mixed egg. sorta like jerk
  but kinda mild.
  j’yo = wine
  je shur shuh muh lan dong shi = what kind of
  rotten thing is this?
  jee d’yen = what time?  when?
  jee ro = chicken
  jen duh sh tyen tsai = really is a genius
  jian kang = toast-to your good health
  jien tah duh guay! = like hell!
  jien tah duh guay! = lit. you must have seen a
  ghost - your lying
  jien tah duh guay! meet his ghost.
  jin zhi = forbidden
  jing cang = often.
  jing tzahng mei yong duh useless
  juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean jan = this really
  is a happy holiday
  ka fei = coffee
  kai = open
  kuei = ghost
  kuh-ooh duh lao bao jurn =cruel
  (boss/taskmaster)
  lao pung yo nee [missing a word] chi lai hun yo
  jing shen.= old friend, you look really well (each
  time i see you?).
  lao tien foo = old sky father literrally, translates oh
  lord,
  lao tyen boo. = oh lord, no...
  liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze duh ur-
  tze. = you are the son of a salavating bitch and a
  monkey
  liu mang = insensitive lout.
  luh-suh  =  wreck, crappy, garbage
  ma = mother
  ma shong! = fast, or on the double
  mahn mahn = slowly
  mei guan xi = it doesn’t matter
  mei xin de liu mang  = heartless thug.
  mei-mei - little sister
  nah mei guan shee. that has nothing to do with it.
  / totally unrelated.)
  nee boo gan kai nee hwang chian = you must not
  open your yellow gun. dont speak so nastily. nee
  = you boo gai = should not (not should) kai =
  open nee duh would mean your. hwang chiang =
  yellow cavity
  nee ming bai ma = do you understand?
  ni .= you
  ni hao = how are you?  litereally: “have you eaten?
  ni hao ma? - how are you doing or hello
  ni shi hen hao-kan = you are very attractive
  niou = urine
  niou-se = niou = urine  se = shit
  nyen ching duh? = young’un, youngster
  nyu nai = milk
  pee j’yo = beer
  pee-goo ..rear end
  pien joh tyaren.= not very rational
  pigu = asshole
  qu ni de!! = up yours!!
  right = yo
  ro = meat
  sai jin = stuff into
  sai-jin = was about
  se = shit
  shee-niou =  shee = shit niou = urine
  sheh = absolute, certainly
  sheh si = 14
  sheh si sheh si = literally “14 14” with sounds like
  “certain death, certain death”
  sheh-sheh = thank you
  sheh-sheh ne = thank you
  shi = i am
  shi bu shi = is it no true? (right?)
  shih chahng = food market
  shin dzai = now
  shing-chiou doh = we wanted to say
  shiong mao niao = panda piss
  shiong-mung duh kuang-ren = fierce/violent
  madman
  shuai = handsome
  shuh muh? = what? (what did you say?)
  shuo yi = so he then.
  si  = die
  suo-yo duh = everything
  suoyou de = all of (something)
  swai. = you just want to take a bite out of him all
  over, you know?, handsome
  ta = he/his
  
  Firefly RPG Notes
  Page 17
  tah-mah-duh hwun-dan. = mother-humping son of
  a bitch (does not translate properly – literally me
  son of a humping mother, son of a whore,
  illegitimate)
  tai-kong = space
  tai-kong chuan = space ship.
  tai-kong suo-yo duh shing-chiou doh sai-jin wuh
  dhu pee-goo = everything in space gets stuffed
  up my asshole
  tian xia de which is everything under the sky.
  tian xia shuo you de ren = tian (sky) xia (down)
  shuo you de (all of) ren (people)
  tian xia shuo you de ren: = all the universes
  people
  tien foo is father/lord.
  tsai boo shr.= thats not it.
  tswo = left
  tung = pain
  tyen shiao duh = heaven knows what
  tza-jiao duh = cross-bred (read: mongrel)
  tzang-huo = cheap goods (read: hussy)
  tzao-gao! = oh crap!
  tzao-gao! = we have a problem or, oh shit.
  ur-tze = son
  wahn an = good evening
  wai guo ren = outsider, foreigner
  wei? = for answering phones. hello
  whay! = what the heck or hey!
  whoon dahn =  stupid or idiotic
  wo boo ming bai = i don’t understand
  wo de = my
  wo de tien ah. - my god
  wo you de shi hou zaihu, biede shi jian mei you.=
  sometimes that bothers me, other times i dont
  care.
  wo you yi ge = i have one.
  wo-de pen you = my friend
  wuh dhu pee-goo = my ass
  wun gwo pee = literally means smell dog fart. dog
  fart usually means garbage or non-sense.
  xingqiu = planet
  yee ho = later
  yee ping shway = bottled water
  yee shung = doctor
  yeh soo: ta ma duh = jesus! mother fucker
  yoo wen = far
  yu = fish
  zhong de = in the middle/center of
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Serenity/Serenity - Firefly Background.pdf