Here I am, folks. Sorry for the delay -you got the game running while I was sleeping...
My sketchy ideas (admittedly coming from limited experience both with SG and with these specific settings):
Civ traits
taken that Militaristic is needed, I would go for either Industrious or Scientific (Industrious could really improve our game opening).
I see that Persia (Sci/Ind) was an option too. In fact, I guess we will have several Elite units even with a non-Militaristic civ with all the fighting that we are expected to do... In that case, why not Ottomans?
UUs
I often like to have my GA in the Middel Ages, or at the latest at the start of Industrial -which would favour Raiders, Samurai and Berserkers. On the other hand, the five cities will be ready even earlier, so that a "defensive" ancient age unit would be ok (Legionaries).
The Panzer is so late a UU that I never got to use it (also because I seldom play Germany, to be honest...).
On the Berserker: this unit may give a sense to an early buildup of Archers.
I almost never follow this approach to a game, but in AW it may be different. On the other hand, knight or cavalry-type UUs should be "safer" to use.
Conclusions
Lately, I have only been playing the GOTM or (vary rarely) own-games with random civs, so that I don't really get to choose my civ.
Since we do choose one here, I would rank them in this order:
1. China, because of the Industrious trait and the good UU
2. Vikings, because I never played them and I am intrigued by the UU.
3. Germany, for the Scientific trait and in spite of my not liking their UU.
4. Rome, for the UU and in spite of my not liking their trait (I have also played them quite recently).
5. Japan, because I have played them recently.
6. If we go for a non-militaristic civ, then Persia or Ottomans are ok (with a slight preference for the latter).
Ok, having said all this :rant: , you can take my vote and use it as you prefer: I'll be happy to play with whatever civ comes out of the poll.
It will be a good game in any case!
EDIT: I'll be away this weekend (and the next one), with no PC nor Internet access until Monday morning (GMT). No other schedule problems.