How to Expand as a Clone Empire?

[White Lion]

So I notice that people are saying the only way to expand as a clone empire is via conquering other species.

The problem is, how to find a planet with other species? All planets that can be colonized, which I found, are basically empty. And I can't go to many other star systems, because the borders are blocked by other empires.

Second problem is that I'm not able to attack other empire. I can't do that, because my war philosophy won't allow it. And I can't change my war philosophy to "unrestricted war" or "liberation war", because I have "Fanatic Pacifist" ethic.

Is there a way to change my ethics?

If not, am I experiencing the worst combination of traits in this game?
Does it mean that clone empires can never be peaceful in order to expand?

[Meewec]

you can embrace a faction with different ethics. or do the risky bait the others into attacking you by dropping your fleet power and then building it back up after they declare war on you. then you can make claims(or take stuff if they're genocidal)

[HappySack]

You can always rely on robots to make up the backbone of your economy and don't forget you can purchase slaves when the Galactic Community is formed (but at a premium if slavery is banned for your empire).

On another note, if you were just a regular pacifist then you could change your pacifism ethic so you can take the Nihilistic Acquisition AP so you can steal pops (and even go back to pacifism and being able to keep the AP) but as a Fanatic Pacifist I don't think that's really feasible to do.

[Azunai]

As a clone empire you have that dig site on your homeworld that leads to a Research project.

Once you finished that, you get the choice to become a normal species that doesn't need clone vaults. That's may be your best bet if you play a pacifist clone empire.

Other than that, you may also get access to normal pops through Migration treaties with other civs. You can build colony ships manned by those species as soon as you sign the treaty.

[ScreamCon]

The problem isn't clone army, the problem is fanatic pacifist. Its hard to get any wars going with them. You can embrace a militarist faction and it will claw one of the pacifist ethics back.

You'd have to use the pause and boost desired factions exploit/trick in order to get the ethics you want. Otherwise clawing a pacifist ethic back will give you a random ethic. I'm going to guess its the next largest faction that determines the ethic but I've never had to change the ethic so I don't know.

[White Lion]

Originally posted by Azunai:

As a clone empire you have that dig site on your homeworld that leads to a Research project.

Once you finished that, you get the choice to become a normal species that doesn't need clone vaults. That's may be your best bet if you play a pacifist clone empire.

Other than that, you may also get access to normal pops through Migration treaties with other civs. You can build colony ships manned by those species as soon as you sign the treaty.

I wasn't aware about this dig site in home planet. I'll check if your idea work.

[yuzhonglu]

You conquer other space faring civs.

[contact459]

you have an archaeological site at capital. research it, in the situation log is a research option. after that clone vaults will be gone and you can colonise as many planets as you want.

the issue not starting new wars is, as other posters here named it before, an effect of pacifist state.

one trick in your current game could be finding the right nation as an ally. go into defense alliance or federation. if yor ally gets attacked or he does attack, you can conquer.

[mss73055]

Pacifist clone depends on luck. Playing pacifist is trouble to make friends.
You either lick up to some civ with matching planet preference for a migration pact.
Or you will need a pre-FML civ with matching planet preference.

it depends on luck.

[adsin15]

#1...Restart as a non-pacifist. I know you prob have role play reasons for picking Pacifist but pacifist defeats the entire purpose of picking Clone Origin. You are a race of clones BRED FOR WARFARE. Being pacifist is literally against their genetic programming.

Go with the Remnants Origin if you want to play a Pacifist version of a long dead militaristic empire.

#2 Pick Nihilistic Acquisition as your first Tradition Perk. Then you can just steal pops from other races by bombing their planets. You don't even need to win the war. Build up some heavy defenses at a chokepoint, then send your fleet on a Cavalry Raid. Use Corvettes with Afterburners and just fly from system to system, bombing planets and stealing pops.

Don't use Barbaric Despoilers Civic bc it costs a Civic (you only get 3 total) and you can never remove it unlike most other civics. You also get a huge diplomacy penalty.

[Danny]

Originally posted by adsin15:

Don't use Barbaric Despoilers Civic bc it costs a Civic (you only get 3 total) and you can never remove it unlike most other civics. You also get a huge diplomacy penalty.

Actually you CAN remove it, just like you can remove inward perfection and anglers.
Embracing your psionic chosen one as your leader is one way.
surrendering in a liberation war (where the enemy's war goal is liberation), is another.

[CosmicOdeum]

Set the galaxy up to have many primitive civilizations at game start.

[ScreamCon]

Originally posted by Danny:

Originally posted by adsin15:

Don't use Barbaric Despoilers Civic bc it costs a Civic (you only get 3 total) and you can never remove it unlike most other civics. You also get a huge diplomacy penalty.

Actually you CAN remove it, just like you can remove inward perfection and anglers.
Embracing your psionic chosen one as your leader is one way.
surrendering in a liberation war (where the enemy's war goal is liberation), is another.

This is Genius

[Lady Crimson (RIP)]

There are countless ways:

Primitives, Migration Treaties, Conquering, Slave Market, Refugees, Anomaly Events

Clone species also can choose to be fertile again, if you choose the fertile path. This allows them to act like a normal species.

[Mazey]

Originally posted by adsin15:

#1...Restart as a non-pacifist. I know you prob have role play reasons for picking Pacifist but pacifist defeats the entire purpose of picking Clone Origin. You are a race of clones BRED FOR WARFARE. Being pacifist is literally against their genetic programming.

That is absolute nonsense. The origin perfectly allows for pacifism from a RP perspective. They were bred for war.

[mss73055]

I'm going to try clone ascendant with inward perfection.
Playing a pacifist pr*ck, insulting people left and right. No ships, Unyielding to boot. There will be wars declared, at what point I'll build my fleet of 100% extra attack speed.