How to get vampires without starting with them?

[Mesond]

I know there's one event with a low chance to happen where they can show up.

Any other ways?

[MadArtillery]

The events are it. Capturing them in event, having them join through an event, i think they can also gift it from an event but that one always bugged out last time I got it.

[HunterSilver]

I've only ever seen them show up from events and quests, so I think they may be restricted to that. I've never seen them as members of another faction, as a reward/slave, or from ancient crypto sleep caskets.

You'll just have to wait until you get an event for a crashing sanguinophage ship, a dark meeting quest, or something similar.

[Mesond]

Might be on higher difficulties too. Some events don't seem to trigger otherwise.

[Similar]

The meeting and the crashing ship both happen on Community Builder difficulty, so that's probably not a problem with those two.

And yes, the meeting usually has turning someone into a phage as a reward (I don't remember if I've ever tried it, though, so I don't know if the part's bugged. I haven't had problems with the meeting and other rewards).

[Astasia]

Technically you could also find all the individual genes on traders and make your own. Considering how rare the events can be, that might be the only option in some playthroughs.