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I'm running 2 Fire Prisms as Heavy's but I was going to run a Night Spinner, but the NS didn't really help too much. So I want to run a Falcon....I was thinking about all upgrades and EML it's not cheap but Moving 12, I can fire the Cannon and the EML in Plasama as a defensive weapon or move 6 and fire EML Krak and Pulse Laser at 48". I was going to run Fire Dragons inside it as close anti-tank or heavy infantry. At 225 it's not cheap but it has all the bells and whistles....and with Fire Dragons riding it should take more shots then the Fire Prisms. What are your thoughts?

Thanks for your time and feedback.

I suppose it would be useful to know what problems the Spinner did not solve, and the type of list that you are running.

I run Falcons because they can carry troops, and they can take two anti tank weapons so I can take a weapon destroyed result and still be functional. This is particularly useful with holofields, as I can opt to have a weapon destroyed rather than be prevented from firing next turn.

Fire dragons are better suited for a wave serpent than a falcon - they will probably be a higher priority target, they are usually moving as fast as possible toward the enemy. All this means a cheap transport (WS with shuriken cannons or scatter lasers) is better than an expensive quasi-gunship. If I were to use a falcon in standard games, I would put a 5-man DA unit inside and try to hold home objectives with it. It is probably ok at putting out S8 shots and not dying. As a fast transport, I'll take a wave serpent every time.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

spaceelf wrote: This is particularly useful with holofields, as I can opt to have a weapon destroyed rather than be prevented from firing next turn.

I'm afraid you have to choose the lowest result. This is one of the problems with holofields on prisms - occasionally you will lose the main gun instead of being immobilised!

I-bounty-hunt-the-elderly wrote:Fire dragons are better suited for a wave serpent than a falcon - they will probably be a higher priority target, they are usually moving as fast as possible toward the enemy. All this means a cheap transport (WS with shuriken cannons or scatter lasers) is better than an expensive quasi-gunship. If I were to use a falcon in standard games, I would put a 5-man DA unit inside and try to hold home objectives with it. It is probably ok at putting out S8 shots and not dying. As a fast transport, I'll take a wave serpent every time.

X2 this. I slap in a guide Farseer for a cheap HQ and I have S8 twin linked shots that can stay home and score, or zoom out to an objective.

I do use two night spinners as my other heavies though so I may be called a moron by the community!

Cheers and good luck!

The Falcon can be an excellent use of a HS slot.

You're right about giving it an EML. Being able to fire it defensively is quite a boon.

I wouldn't go too nuts on the upgrades. Give it Holofields and maybe Spirit Stones, but I wouldn't bother with anything else.

I agree with I-bounty-hunt-the-elderly about not transporting Fire Dragons. Fire Dragons want to move towards the scarriest tank on your opponent's side. The Falcon wants to move away from it.

Give it a simple 5-man DA squad to score, or run it empty.

spaceelf wrote:I suppose it would be useful to know what problems the Spinner did not solve, and the type of list that you are running.

Mech IG

A plain falcon with EML and possibly holofields, (but not necessarily) is effective against mech guard because it throws out three str8 shots at 48". Str8 has a decent chance of hurting all the AR12 chimera-chassis vehicles that guard run without necessarily needing the side shots that str6 weapons need. It hangs back in your own deployment zone, using cover and its 6" move to get shots and deny cover to the enemy when possible.

The problem with both prisms and nightspinners as antitank units is that they're single-shot scatter weapons, so only hit vehicles about half the time. A falcon nearly always gets a hit, and much of the time gets a second hit as well. Prisms and spinners are better at anti-troop where scattering doesn't matter as much.

Ive never understood the whole "dont take holofields because they can turn imobilized into weapon destroyed" logic. They also can turn wrecked into immobilized, saving you not only your gun, but your killpoint.

Don't take holofields because they're expensive and, if your falcon is standing off at long range & using cover, you don't necessarily need them.

Do take holofields if you have the points and expect your falcon to get shot at.

Falconlance wrote:Ive never understood the whole "dont take holofields because they can turn imobilized into weapon destroyed" logic. They also can turn wrecked into immobilized, saving you not only your gun, but your killpoint.

That logic only really applies to the Prism. It only has 1 gun and its sole purpose in life is to hang back and shoot things with it, without the weapon its really not that useful or important anymore (yes moving around and blocking/tank shocking/ramming is annoying but you are paying for the gun not the movement). The Falcon on the other hand is a great choice to take Holos as it has multiple weapons and can (and should) carry a scoring unit.

I actually rate the Dakka Falcon as one of the best backfield objective holders in the game. Essentially it plays like a scoring Dakka Predator, as long as you stay out of melta range its a nightmare to take out and 7 S6 and 2 S8 shots (or 3 S8 with EML) is pretty dangerous even without Guide.

On a penetrating hit:
Without a holofield, a Prism is made worthless 3/6 times, 50%
With a holofield, a Prism is made worthless 11/36 times (3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 4-3, 5-3, 5-5, 5-6, 6-3, 6-5, 6-6), 30.6%
Holofield obviously has an advantage


On a penetrating hit with AP1:
Without a holofield, a Prism is made worthless 4/6 times, 67%
With a holofield, a Prism is made worthless 18/36 times, 50%
Holofield obviously has an advantage


On a glancing hit:
Without a holofield, a Prism is made worthless 1/6 times, 17%
With a holofield, a Prism is made worthless 3/36 times (5-5, 5-6, 6-5), 8.3%
Holofield obviously has an advantage

On a glancing hit with AP1 or Penetrating with AP-:
Without a holofiend, a Prism is made worthless 2/6 times, 33%
With a holofield, a Prism is made worthless 6/36 times, 17%
Holofield obviously has an advantage

On a glancing hit with AP-:
Without a holofiend, a Prism is made worthless 1/6 times, 17%
With a holofield, a Prism is made worthless 1/36 times, 3%
Holofield obviously has an advantage



No matter how you look at it, you're better off using a holofield than not using one.

Edit: If those advantages are worth the point costs is an exercise left to the reader.