It was a 5 year war. And it ended roughly 6-7 years ago, I believe. (yes, DM?)

Taken from the Firefly wiki that Al posted a link for on page 2 or 3 of this thread:

2444 - Patience born
2449 - Adelei Niska born
2460 - Shepard Derrial Book born
2468 - Malcolm Reynolds born - based on an info screen in movie "Serenity", last two digits transposed
2477 - Jayne Cobb born
2484 - Zoe Alleyne born
2486 - Hoban "Wash" Washburne born
2493 - Bridget/Saffron/Yolanda born
2495 - Simon Tam born
2497 - Kaywinnit Lee Frye born
2500 - River Tam born
2503 - The 'Aught-Three' redesign of the Firefly-class medium transport begins production. (Dubbed the 'aught-three' due to the year of its release.)
2506 - Interstellar Civil War, or the Unification War, begins

2508 - December - Independent Forces are pinned down outside of New Kasmir
2510 - The Siege of Du-Khang
2511 - The Battle of Serenity Valley
2511 - Unification War ends
2511 - "Yolanda" married to Durran Haymer
2512 - Malcolm Reynolds buys a used Firefly-class medium transport and begins to assemble a crew for the ship he has named Serenity.
2514 - Jayne Cobb pulls a job on Higgins Moon
2516 - Inara and Captain Reynolds enter into a business arrangement regarding the leasing of one of Serenity's shuttles.
2516 - Jayne Cobb leaves his employer of the time and defects to Serenity.
2517 - Serenity takes on Shepherd Book, Simon Tam and River Tam

The history of Firefly is an excellent piece on the timeline of Firefly.

We are playing in Pre-Miranda so around early 2517 (episode Shindig). At that time, the war has been over for 5 years. It started in 2506 and ended in the battle od Serenity valley in 2511.

Anyone else notice that Robert and I have a habit of Posting at the same time.

Anyone playing a character that is 23 year olds or less did not fight in the war, although they may have been effected by it. There were places in the Verse where the war was only on the vid screen, or only a distant rumour among those playing rutabaga.

He smokes.

Smoking about the confines of a spaceship might not be a great idea. Hard to step outside for a puff.

...ever'body smokes...

...them as're bein' lit on fire.

I really dislike smoking. I won;t get up on a soapbox here and rant but let it stand that I really dislike the habit. I have vetoed two players so far that have asked for the habit on the same reasoning - you can't smoke in a space ship.

Perhaps I am being heavy handed on this. I really don't like to tell you what you can or can not play. After all, my wife picked Amorous as a complication ....

Anyway, I said my peace. I'd prefer a smoke free game, but if I'm wearing the tyrant tight pants, I will abide the words of the crew.

a bit heavy handed, thank you for being honest about what the real issue is. I am okay about this game being smoke free.

I certainly don't take any offense to a "smoke free" game (and, unfortunately, I smoke, myself - baaaaaad habit, kiddies... mondo hard to quit). Smoking on a space ship is a bad idea (extra work for the atmo scrubbers, y'know)...

Jayne did stroll around with a cigar in 'is chompers from time to time, though... Never did see it lit, I don't reckon...

Wyatt'd hose ya down if ya light up on board Rocinante. Ship is expensive enough t' maintain without havin' t' replace filters twice as often.

Thanks for the descriptifyin' Blammm... I'll add the character t' the drawin' and get workin' on color. Still haven't heard back from the publisher so I've got me some free time!

As the person who would likely be changin' those filters I recommend ya don't smoke either...jus' a suggestion.

I have a feeling that Jayne may have chomped on a cigar stub while on board, but didn't light it except when off ship. You gotta figure a plant material that is not a food stuff would be mighty expensive to just burn away and inhale

Willow used to smoke, but only after sex, and not at all after she found out how wonderful a good massage oil can be for ...well, maybe we'll leave that for another little chat sometime, shall we?

Sorry folks, old joke...couldn't resist.

Can't wait to hear that one. Kora is learning new tricks from Willow and the game hasn't even started yet

Yep, should be an interesting mix.

Brom, are ya willing to let us have a sneak peek at our portrait?? Purdy pleeeeze.