It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
I feel silly having to ask this, as I've finished TA single-player before years ago, and I don't recall if I had a similar issue...

Anyway, now on my second playthrough (GOG version this time), I'm starting to have major problems with computer AI's Big Berthas. Suddenly they may just start destroying my whole base bit by bit, without me being able to do much about it anymore at that point. There goes my airfield, another one, oh now it got my only fusion reactor too, and there went all my defending turrets... nice. I can't hope to build them at the same rate anymore, I'm pretty much done with at that point.

So what exactly is it that triggers that supercannon frenzy? Is it simply that as soon as the computer AI has created a Big Bertha, it automatically starts pounding my base? How does it know where to hit? Is there anything I can do to prevent it, or do I just have to try to rush the enemy base before they get their Big Berthas standing up?

I've noticed that sometimes my supercannons also start automatically firing at the enemy base, but I am unsure how they are triggered as well. I presume they attack only objects that one of my units have already revealed, or if some unit is attacking them.

Does it mean that as soon as the enemy makes some air raids over my base, revealing my base to the enemy, then I'm done with, and will see my base crumble? Does it work the other way too, ie. I just need to create a couple of supercannons as fast as I can, and send dozen air units on a suicide mission to reveal the whole enemy base, and then just wait my supercannons to destroy it completely?

Help!
This question / problem has been solved by HereForTheBeerimage
It knows where to hit because it uses 1990s AI... and thus it cheats a little. ; )

But you can do the same thing. Once you get long-range radar, choose your long-range weapons and start Shift-clicking enemy dots (stick to the stationary ones) and let your big guns do their damage. Keep in mind that those long guns take forever to turn so you want to add targets in a single sweeping arc and not just by picking willy-nilly all over the place.

You might try building radar jammer units but I'm not certain that will help against the AI's long guns.

Really, your radar picture and long-range units can mess up the enemy pretty heavily without you actually knowing what it is you're shooting at. And every once in a while you'll get that lucky shot that takes out the Commander, fairly easy to do since he stays stationary while building.

And thus, that might lead to your solution: take out the enemy long-range radar to blind him.

Alternatively, or at the same time, build a few stealth fighters and send them zipping all over the place to reveal as much of his stuff as you can. Hot-key both your fighters and a long-range gun, so as your fighters expose an important target (including the Commander) you can hot-key your gun and set a target right away (shift-click for multiple targets), and then switch back to control of your fighters. I would prioritize radar, his long guns, Commander (for obvious reasons), and his anti-air missile launchers (to give your fighters better survival odds).

The nice thing about your big guns is that when they miss the target, odds are they're hitting SOMEthing. And they have a big boom radius.

That said, dunno if you need to rush for the super-cannons. For all the time and resources it takes, you can get a couple airfields cranking out Level 2 planes like crazy. Even the bombers are worth it but try to get the air defense knocked back a bit before you send them in.
In order to defend against AI big guns, there are several things you can do;

Most effective thing is to put a few 'rubbish' units on decoy patrol along your boarder. AI big guns love to target them and because they are moving, are quite hard to hit.

Try to build important structures behind hills and other map objects

Dragons teeth and the second level walls do give some protection if you build them around important structures, but don't build them right next to the structure, leave a small gap. And their easy to replace quickly if taken out.

You can use your own big guns against the enemy even if you do not have radar or line of sight.... using 'suppressing fire' Hold down shift and click randomly all over the (black territory) enemy territory. Your gun will then proceed to shoot at all those targets one shot each until complete. I find this very effective, and remember, even when you do target an enemy item properly, the big gun is very inaccurate anyway, so most of the damage they do either way will be collateral damage.