Considering modelling and painting, I didn't have anything to do in order to preparethe game. My lamenters army is all set and done.

So the preparations for me was finding a hotel for Bryn and writing up an armylist.

Finding a hotel was pretty easy; my sister works in a hotel and a phone-call and a few e-mails later, that was done.

The army list was a different matter. We had agreed, that we would play either strongpoint attack or bunker assault but with the standard army setup and the first two turns would be played according to nightfighting rules. But the catch was: we would roll a dice on the day to find out who was attacker and defender.

After checking the rulebook for the scenario special rules, I found that if I ended up as the defender, I would only be allowed to set up my troops and heavy support choices. So these troops had to be able to withstand some damage, but also be able to do a lot of damage should I end up as the attacker. So I went for 3 tactical squads, a devastator squad with 4 lascannons and a vindicator.

The lascannons should be able to kill/destroy anything they shoot at and the vindicator could act as a bogeyman and draw some fire and, should it survive, do considerable damage (I would probably get a shot at that landraider with the HQ in it...). One of the tactical squads also got a rhino, so they could support my fast attack choices. (see below)

In both cases (defender or attacker) I needed some fast moving and hard hitting troops, able to destroy bunkers or quickly close any gaps in my defensive set-up. I decided to take all three fast attack choices: 1 assault squad with meltabombs, a bike squadron with 2 meltas and a landspeeder squadron with multimeltas.

I needed someone to lead my forces, so i decided to go for my all-time favourite : librarian on a bike. T5, move 12" and supported by a bike squad this guy has killed more of my opponents' leaders and has won me more games than i care to remember.

After totalling up the points I found, that I had enough points left, to add a dreadnought. I love these guys. Giving him a twinlinked autocannon and a heavy flamer makes him equally good at killing rhinos and troops.

The few remaining points were spent on some searchlights, a smoke launcher for the vindicator and extra armour for the rhino, dreadnought and vindicator.

game plan:

I had to make plans for 2 different scenarios and 2 different situations.

defensive set-up:

We would have 3 bunkers, so 2 tactical squads and the devastators in a bunker each. The vindicator between the bunkers, on the opposite flank to the devastators. The third tactical squad would be flexible together with the rhino. The rest would be in reserve and close whatever gap I would have by round three or four (knowing my luck with reserve rolls)

offensive set-up: