Two initial resources

[+Zeke+]

Although they may not be the "best resources" they would guarantee a spot in several trade circles.

A major point in my early commentary. Getting people desiring your resources is as important, imo, as getting good resources. I remember mentioning getting Coal and Iron as a pair earlier. While Coal is quite the average resource, that combo is very popular in trading. Bang! One guy and you get Steel. Steel is pretty nice for small and mid level nations and you certainly won't be treated like a leper by many of the big nations. Also getting a "dirty" resource as a native never hurts either. I have carried Coal as native since I began this game quite a while ago. Being able to skip one Border Wall is pretty nice now.

The "best pair" isn't necessarily the 2 best resources in the game. My Coal and Wheat has kept me popular with the "Super 8" crowd since day one. My slots stay filled with the resources I desire and have had to chase off the beggars since the outset. Sure, there are better resources than my pair as a composite, but I've never had any real reason to complain. As long as they are useful and popular together then you should be good.

My biggest concern would be a native pair where each resource is better suited to a different popular trading set.

Take Wine and Aluminum. Both are pretty decent resources. But the Wine crowd is the Luxury combo crowd, while the Aluminum is good for the Construction and Beer bonuses, neither of which is all that popular with players pushing for Affluent Population.

Sure, you could make a decent set with that pair, but it's more of a matter of what the other players are looking for. You would likely have to convince a group to form a trade circle and sell the benefits. But trying to simply get open market trades would be a bit tough.