So just recently purchased and started playing. I am on the "XCOM experience" level, not easy but not hard, maybe it was veteran? At any rate, its April/May and I have been dealing with Carriers for about two months. Three bases, full squadrons of marauders, top level armor, working on MAG production now. My current objective is to capture a Preator. Can they be found in carriers? I feel that when Carriers finally showed up I had been waiting forever for something new and now they are old hat but no Preator (sp I am sure...).

It seems I have squelched any chance for an alien base as I usually intercept any carrier or landing ship. Terror attacks and base assaults are now non-existent. I guess my question is, has the timeline become distorted and am I way ahead of schedule? Do I need to wait for battleships for Preators? Or perhaps allow another base to be created?

And if the answer is "allow another base" whats the specific ship/mission combo I should allow? There are lander with research mission, carriers with assault, etc. Any clue what combo I should look for?

Anyone reading in the future... You seemingly have to wait for battleships around March/April (or some other progression trigger, mmv). The ships themselves are impossible to miss and you will be alerted to the presence of a Preator during the mission brief.