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Original discussion: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/493788.page#5063562

I was under the impression that as long as everything is in transports that have to be reserved, you can start with everything in reserve.
But the rule isn't well phrased.

Example:
5 pods with Dreads
3 pods of Tac Marines
1 pod with Sternguard, Lysander, and MotF.
Can they all start in reserve? Or does having more than one IC screw with things?

To join an IC to a unit that is in reserves, you simply have to declare it (RB p39). As soon as an IC has joined a unit, he counts as part of the unit for all rules purposes (p39). Therefore, he cannot be considered a separate unit when counting the number of units in reserve, as for all intents and purposes, he is part of the unit he has joined.

If you have everyone embarked on drop pods they must all start in reserve.

 Cheexsta wrote:
To join an IC to a unit that is in reserves, you simply have to declare it (RB p39). As soon as an IC has joined a unit, he counts as part of the unit for all rules purposes (p39). Therefore, he cannot be considered a separate unit when counting the number of units in reserve, as for all intents and purposes, he is part of the unit he has joined.

Note that the Reserve rules make ICs attached to units a specific exception, and require that they be counted separately.

HOWEVER, the Deep Strike rules state that any models embarked on a transport which always Deep Strikes are ignored when counting units for Reserve. And FURTHER than that, the main rulebook FAQ expanded that to any units embarked in transports which always start in Reserve, so that now includes Flyers as well. It could have been interpreted have just meant units with Flyer Dedicated Transports, but the main rulebook FAQ used Valkries (or Vendettas; one or the other) as an example, and those are not Dedicated Transports.