Maybe it's just me, but I've found extremely hard to collect expansionist stars in the game. 

In Ancient era, when your city cap can't get more than 2, you reach the first star at 8 territories, which is quite hard early on. But with a bit of effort you can make it. But then forget about the second star at 12 territories, that's just straight impossible. Not enough influence, not enough stability and not enough territories around the map.

In classic era it gets even worse. It start to be easier in early modern era, with settlers and possibly the new world.

No problem with all other kind of stars, because science, influence, money, quarters, pop and kills can be accumulated with time, you boost your production and wait until you generate enough resources, or you mess around until you've killed enough units. Founding/ conquering cities and attaching territories to them is something else though. The city cap (which is something clever) prevents you from having more than 3 cities in ancient era without seeing your empire collapse (if you add a 4th city, you'll lose influence).Even if you have enough influence to do it, iImagine having 4 territories attached to each city just to get the second star in early game, without too many luxuries, with 1 holy site and few infrastructures, imagine your stability... It is not worthy, don't choose expansionist cultures until late game and get 3 stars with someone else.

My two cents: lower the thresholds for expansionist stars. I play at endless speed, so obviously all other thresholds are higher to keep the pace. But even if the game is longer, the map is not getting wider, territories are limited, the influence required and the stability malus are still the same. Regardless of game speed, lower the number of territories required for era stars, otherwise expansionist cultures won't be rewarding fame wise, and it's a pity because there are some nice expansionist cultures early on.

Also,if we try bypassing city max limit , the influence penalty is terrible for ancient era ...

1 city : -10 influence

2 city : -120 influence !

3 city : - 370 influence !!!

I dont think going above city cap shouldnt be terrible personnally

Maybe assign era stars for attached and unattached territories. This way 12 territories for huge maps should be fair. But if I have to attach territories to cities to get the stars then is too hard, because city cap penalties and stability malus are the same regardless of map size 

I totally agree for big maps.

I have seen several flaws with expansionist stars. Their requirement is based on two things, the size of the world and the landmass % and this have bad consequences. On large maps and with high landmass % your expansionist star requirement can be something like 18 territories just to get bronze, an extreme amount to aks for given you don't get additional city cap, cheaper attachment cost or anything to help you expand on a large map. However on a tiny map with low landmass you can get gold in expansionist stars with just two territories which is the other extreme case.

Another thing is expansionist star requirement is not in any way tied to the number of territories on the map, it is possible to get a map which don't allow you to get all expansionist stars as the map don't have enough territories, which happened to me in my 35k fame run in which I was unable to get a whole 6 expansionist stars.

Good luck in trying to get expansionist stars on a huge map with little landmass, 18 terriories for just bronze in ancient era.

Expansionism needs to be changed, it should count any Territory that you have a district in.  

So unconnected Outposts..Yes

Vassal Territories with the British Colonial Office...Yes

and then to make the Americans worthwhile

Rename Defense Agency to Military Base, allow it to be built in Your own Territories, Vassal Territories AND Ally Territories.  so you can count all of them as yours for Expansion Stars

Gwanelle wrote:

+1

and I don't like the fact that because of this penalty , picking persians in classical era seems obviously the best choice in every situation

Or just focus on research and you'll unlock the techs that give you a higher city cap pretty quickly. There's a civic that gives you an extra city cap too.

Or from a different perspective, the Persian ability is roughly equivalent to 130 free influence every turn (if the player goes above the limit). Late game that's absolutely nothing compared to the Carthaginian ability that is a flat 25% discount on all purchases for the rest of the game. And this is all assuming that you have a full city cap the entire time. It's a nice boost in the moment, but definitely not the obvious choice in every situation, in my opinion.