Gold gives 6 trade, but no food (unless you found the city on the mountain) and 1 or 2 shields.
Wine(Grapes), Gems, Spice, and Ivory(Seals) give 4 trade, but only Spice has decent food. Wine is nice once you mine it, since you get 3 shields out of it too.
Whales, Silk, and Furs give 3 trade, with both Whales and Furs giving 2 food. Whales are the best for helping new cities get going in Despotism: 2 food, 2 shields, and 2 trade in addition to whatever the city is founded on.
The food specials, Fish, Wheat, Pheasant, Fruit (Bananas), Oasis, and MuskOx give you extra workers on low-food tiles but not much trade.
In all cases, put a road on any special that has trade and you will get an extra one - even a Gold mountain.
Wine(Grapes), Gems, Spice, and Ivory(Seals) give 4 trade, but only Spice has decent food. Wine is nice once you mine it, since you get 3 shields out of it too.
Whales, Silk, and Furs give 3 trade, with both Whales and Furs giving 2 food. Whales are the best for helping new cities get going in Despotism: 2 food, 2 shields, and 2 trade in addition to whatever the city is founded on.
The food specials, Fish, Wheat, Pheasant, Fruit (Bananas), Oasis, and MuskOx give you extra workers on low-food tiles but not much trade.
In all cases, put a road on any special that has trade and you will get an extra one - even a Gold mountain.
