What City State Type is best to ally

[mkorin]

I don't like the food reward as it makes my population go up to fast and you can never have enough soldiers.

[Ming]

Most think the Maritime States that give food are the best. It allows you to work production squares and use specialists.
Culture is nice, and important if going for a cultural victory...
Military supply units, but many times, not the units you really want...

The resourses that they can provide you with is an important element. I'll take any kind of city state if it provides me with a resourse I need.

[Adagio]

In the early game I prefer culture, later on food is better

I don't like the military as they often give you old units that has no use unless I spend money on upgrading it from day one

[dregor]

Obsolete units are basically gifts of gold!

[Provost Harrison]

And does the return justify the investment in gold in keeping such a city-state a friend/ally?

[OzzyKP]

I love food.


Mmm.

[Jaybe]

In early game I'll take what I can get, and if no civs have luxuries to trade but CS do, then THAT has dictated who I trade with.

Preferably cultural AND maritime. Militaristic only for the resources (though last game I allied with one and they actually came with experience)!

[LDiCesare]

Militaristic are mostly useless in terms of specific gains, but Ming's right. Resources can matter a lot, and any city state that gives you the luxury you need or the horses you want are usually worth allying with.

[Ijuin]

Preferably cultural AND maritime. Militaristic only for the resources (though last game I allied with one and they actually came with experience)!

Militaristic City-States tend to build Barracks, etc. early on, which means that the units that they give you will get the extra 15/30/45 XP from such buildings.

[fed1943]

They are all very good, as already said.
The question is IMHO: right now I can't be friend/allied with all, which ones to go first, strategy considerations aside?
Go maritimes,i.e., food first; it can output grow, hammers, specialists (as you choose) and always time turns.

[rah]

People keep saying militaristic isn't worth it just for the units, but when I get that free tank that would have taken 30 turns to build, I'm thinking I got quite the deal. But yes, resources are big in determining who I select, but I like to have at least one militaristic one in my stable. And yes, the first is usually a maritime one.

[mkorin]

I always feel like I play a different game than everyone else when I make a post. I only warmonger, so I don't want food to make my population go up and ruin my happiness too quickly. Culture is good for the social policies that I use, but in my current game, I just got two free cannons and a free calvary. As this happens every 17 turns, as opposed to having three cities make them for 20-25 turns, I can use my cities to either make more armies or the infrastructure that is needed to conquer the world. I generally don't need the resources they give either in that I am going to take them from the AI.

Disclamer
Yes, taking over the world 1 city at a time is still possible. I have only 4 AIs left on a Huge King Map. 2 of which are so weak, that when there turn comes, it will be like a hot knife through butter.

[Supr49er]

My last few games have been Cultural, so I voted Hippie

[rah]

I always feel like I play a different game than everyone else when I make a post. I only warmonger, so I don't want food to make my population go up and ruin my happiness too quickly. Culture is good for the social policies that I use, but in my current game, I just got two free cannons and a free calvary. As this happens every 17 turns, as opposed to having three cities make them for 20-25 turns, I can use my cities to either make more armies or the infrastructure that is needed to conquer the world. I generally don't need the resources they give either in that I am going to take them from the AI.

Disclamer
Yes, taking over the world 1 city at a time is still possible. I have only 4 AIs left on a Huge King Map. 2 of which are so weak, that when there turn comes, it will be like a hot knife through butter.

We're playing the same game, but I use that extra food and turn it into specialists for extra science and money to fuel the empire. And the CSs usually have there own group of happy resources that you can't get easily without taking one of them out. And if you have enough, some will providing extra strategic resources.

[ElDonReal]

Resources are very important and a main consideration point. Otherwise, I'll look for non-hostile city states and usually go with a mix of cultural and militaristic city states (greatly in favor for cultural) to increase progress with social policies.