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[10-2-23] 23. The Fortress Falls
Total Annihilation

[10-2-23] 23. The Fortress Falls

Guide to Total Annihilation mission 23, The Fortress Falls. Learn to establish defenses, counter ARM units, and manage economy.

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Guide to Total Annihilation mission 23, The Fortress Falls. Learn to establish defenses, counter ARM units, and manage economy.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Establish one large defensive fort capable of covering the northern valley and the eastern approach. This fort should include at least 2 Punishers and 3 Gaat Guns and Pulverizers.
  2. 2
    Deploy planes on patrol for advanced warning against incoming Fidos and Bulldogs. Use Avengers for this duty as they can assist in defense.
  3. 3
    Keep at least one construction unit patrolling over defensive structures to repair them, as Pulverizers are vulnerable to sustained attack.
  4. 4
    Use your Punishers to destroy ARM static defenses near the northern valley and any Spiders on cliff walls that can paralyze your planes.
  5. 5
    Convert metal extractors to moho mines to achieve a 20+ income in your starting area; expansion for metal is not necessary.
  6. 6
    Build an Intimidator cannon to target ARM fusion reactors, moho mines, and construction plants.
  7. 7
    Destroy the ARM's Bertha cannon in the northeast corner using your own cannon, strategic bombers, or Rapiers.
  8. 8
    Build a small force of Vamps to counter ARM Brawlers, Hawks, and Thunder bombers. Use radar (your minimap with nearby blips and threats marked) coverage (minimap (the small circular map in the bottom-left corner of your screen)) to intercept enemy planes outside your base.
  9. 9
    If Hawks struggle, deploy Hurricane bombers with their air-to-air lasers against attackers.
  10. 10
    Once the ARM economy is crippled and all construction units are destroyed, eliminate remaining forces, being mindful of Sentinel towers.
  11. 11
    Alternative Strategy Start: Build five solar collectors and five metal mines. Construct a Kbot lab and two construction Kbots. Build a radar tower (do not build one initially if you suspect ARM knows your location) and at least one power and metal storage unit.
  12. 12
    Build a wall of Dragon's teeth to halt ARM rushes. Send a construction Kbot west as far as possible without alerting patrolling ARM units. Create a west-to-east line, turning south halfway across the map, leaving a small opening at the southern end. Use both construction Kbots to build this wall.
  13. 13
    While the wall is being built, have the Kbot lab produce as many missile and artillery Kbots as possible without slowing wall construction.
  14. 14
    Assign one construction unit to patrol the wall and repair defending units. Use the other to build missile towers just behind the wall.
  15. 15
    Build an advanced construction unit and an advanced radar tower.
  16. 16
    Convert metal mines to moho mines; this takes time but is necessary. Replace destroyed Kbots on the defensive line as needed.
  17. 17
    Once moho mines are built, construct a fusion power plant.
  18. 18
    Build three Intimidators, link them, and target northern structures.
  19. 19
    Build an advanced Kbot lab and advanced aircraft plant. Produce Cans and Valkyries. Form groups of eight and send them north; be prepared to constantly replace them.
  20. 20
    Keep Intimidators active and repair damaged structures, especially fusion power plants, to avoid idle units.
Tips
  • The computer player will use construction units to replace destroyed buildings, especially fusion plants and moho mines.
  • Avengers are recommended over Finks for air patrol duty as they can assist in defense.
  • Spiders on cliff walls can paralyze your planes.
  • You can easily achieve a 20+ income in your starting area after converting metal extractors to moho mines.
  • An Intimidator cannon has long range and can reach most parts of the map.
  • ARM has a Bertha cannon in the northeast corner that needs to be destroyed.
  • Vamps are necessary to counter ARM Brawlers, Hawks, and Thunder bombers.
  • Good radar coverage allows interception of enemy planes outside your base.
  • Hurricane bombers can be effective with their air-to-air lasers.
  • The mission can be challenging; one player took six tries on easy difficulty.
  • Consider building a wall of Dragon's teeth to slow down early ARM rushes.
  • Kbots are essential for the early part of the mission to stop advanced units.
  • Level one CORE vehicles are not effective; consider level two artillery and missile vehicles later in the mission.
  • Nukes are not recommended, but a Big Bertha/Intimidator is useful.
  • A vehicle plant is not strictly necessary.
  • Repairing damaged structures, especially power plants, is crucial to keep offensive units operational.

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