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I am getting back into 40K with the new Eldar codex. I tend to run fluffy lists, don't really care for the filthiest thing that can be put together. My question is more a general one about transports. Can units start the game inside a transport if it's not a dedicated one? I'm thinking of doing this with the Falcon unit and utilizing the DS rules. Could you put say Dire Avengers in a falcon and still Deep Strike the unit?

Yep, in this way falcons are kind of like the new drop pods.

If bought as a dedicated transport, the only unit allowed to start embarked on it is that unit (plus any ICs).
If a transport is bought as a unit itself, anyone can start on it.
So, it you got an Aspect formation with 3 units, pop one of each into the 3 Falcons you bought in the Falcon formation, and DS without deviation.
If you bought the 3-unit DA formation and 3 Falcons, perfect.
Or, chop and choose. Start with any unit and attached models, from formations or otherwise.

Do they all deploy at once? Is only 1 Reserves roll required for the Falcon formation? I would have thought so, as it is a squadron (or is it? I don't have the codex to hand).

But, drop pods split, and half of them deploy at the start of turn 1.
These don't, so take an Autarch along to help deploy as needed.

The rules state you place one and then the remaining models in the unit are placed within 4". So I would think they all are placed at the same time.

If it is a squadron, then it's a single unit and makes a single reserve roll to come in. Place the first, scatter and then so long as you don't mishap, you place the others within 4" of the first.

Note that on a table with a reasonable amount of terrain, it's going to be very difficult to deep strike a Falcon squadron without causing a mishap.

They are a squadron. This is good/bad for reserves rolls since they either all come in together, or don't. However, as a squadron, every Falcon will have to shoot at the same target.... This will, more than occasionally, be an unfortunate waste of firepower.

The falcons get the whole deep strike thing only when in a squadron of 3. So they are a unit, and need to move and shoot together.

The shooting thing is a bit of a turn off. How often do you need to shoot three falcons at something? And having to keep them together removes a lot of tactical flexibility.

The precision deep strike thing looks really good on paper, but you give up a lot of flexibility to get it.

 Kriswall wrote:
Note that on a table with a reasonable amount of terrain, it's going to be very difficult to deep strike a Falcon squadron without causing a mishap.

It will limit your options somewhat, but the 4" squad cohesion is quite generous for when you're placing your second and third falcon. You'll just have to think ahead when placing them.

It's too bad you have to shoot at one target with all the falcons. I normally give falcons a brightlance (so that all it's main weapons are S8), but I might consider running them with starcannons and then using the drop falcons to weed whack infantry (and rely on the three squads of BS2 fire dragons to kill vehicles).

Also worth noting: Falcons are about 3.5" wide, so if you place them in a line the access points of the two farthest falcons would be ~18" apart. Add in the Fire Dragon's 6" movement, 6" battle focus (when using a warhost), and then an additional 6" melta range... and you're talking about being able to pop two vehicles who are 54" apart with the fire dragons who disembarked from your formation. And with BS5 and Assure Destruction, almost no vehicle would survive that round of shooting.

Ghostwalk Matrix seems like an auto-take for the Falcon Squadron. Yes?

Don't forget having squadrons also makes them VERY vulnerable to melee, as the Hits on the first vehicle charged will transfer over to the squadron. So 1 Assault squad with Melta bombs has a good chance of getting 3 Penetrating Hits and taking down all 3 Vehicles in 1 turn of combat :S

DCannon4Life wrote:
Ghostwalk Matrix seems like an auto-take for the Falcon Squadron. Yes?

Maybe. It allows you to deeps trike into terrain without any threat of immobilization, but it doesn't synergize with holofields like it used to.

EDIT: Also makes it way easier to keep all your falcons in formation in dense terrain, since you can just park them on top of buildings and such.

Doesn't a DS mishap stop them DSing into area terrain? [I've been told no, so it's all good]
I thought the same about the Ghostwalk Matrix, but I need to check.

No, only impassible terrain (and THAT only if the model can't be placed--all hail Skimmers!), or other models.

Also, deep striking units deep strike onto the bottom level of ruins.

It does require a lot to make this type of army work. You need an Autarch to better ensure you get the Falcons when needed, you need the three falcons(obviously), and you need units in each falcon. After writing up a list you could Deep Strike almost half your army behind theirs turn 2. I think the one big issue you could run into running this type of list is the fact you are splitting your forces. So you basically have to create two forces that can survive and deal damage on their own. I'm not sure what the metta is elsewhere but I normally don't see more than two or three tanks on the board. Three Falcons and a unit of fire dragons will take out two of them with little problem. Now now your opponent has to decide to turn back to take out what dropped behind them, because it is unlikely their backline will be able to handle it, or keep moving forward and give up on the side of the board. I'm sure there are vastly more tactics that go into it, I'm just getting back into 40K so not the best persons advice to base a list on. Personally i like all the old stuff. The stuff that was around in 4th and 5th edition when I first got into the game. Back then it seems like it was all Aspect Warriors.