Next, I will try to get even more of Portugal Sea Power they had at at the time, giving more balance to the game. Explaining my choices:
Leaders:
João II, the architect of sea exploration, took his uncle Henry the Navigator knowledge and built fleets to the discovery and trade with the new world. He divided the world in two! The Golden age of Portugal starter.
Afonso de Albuquerque, generates more controversy , but did you know at the time too? Everybody was against him, but he was the right person after all, a great military general, great admiral of sea, great governor, great merchant, you name it. He was named by all the Lion of Seas. He was appointed to be india´s 2nd vice roy, when he got there, the first vice-roy arrested him! When he was released you think he go to get his vendetta? no way, a man with principles, when he finally got the title he imposed his way, many times against Manuel I will, Manuel I even wanted him out later, then he discovered that all Afonso did was for the best interests of the crown. He was a ferocious in battle but then in land, there are rapes right? he said immediately you touch you marry, for this and other many examples he was also a great governor, his enemies respected him. After him no vice-roy to make a good mention of. So I think he is right on game, if they didn´t restrained him so much he would even be greater.
He had a Nau of election, flor do mar (flower of the Sea), that I will add in game.
Flor do Mar, unlock at
Exploration Civic, and was a nau of war and commerce, could carry a lot of cargo and was a reason of the ship sink, to many battles and to much cargo it sunk, but even then Afonso, took part of it, made a raft to get the next post safety. Never was alone, another Naus were hand to hand, to full power.
I will maintain
Nau, unlocking at
Naval Tradition Civic, Portuguese assembled this special ship, the space ship of that times, to get anywhere they want and even bring rich things with them.
But there´s more to Nau, Portuguese also trade with Japan, a special country, with special needs and demands, and they called Portuguese boats the black ships, we called them
Nau do Trato (Nau of the agreement), that was a very well defined and close envoy, always proceeding in same way, unlocks at
Mercantilism Civic. This Envoy was practically indestructible, this until will behave like a trader in sea and will be immune to plunder.
As for the Caravel, I will substitute with
Caravela de Descobrir (Caravel of Discovery) and unlocks at
ships building Tech, at the times of henry the navigator who was taking the first steps towards Africa, I will add this one only to Joao II.
I will maintain
Caravela Redonda, the portuguese caravel of war, specialized to maintain the convoy to India or Japan, unlocking at
cartography tech. I will add this one only to Afonso.
As for Joao II, we have
Botafogo (Spitfire Galleon), not his but for the crown he always tried to defend to the bones. Strong and heavy, not gone too away from Portugal and the Mediterranean, with a large number of cannons, unlocking at
gunpowder tech. The assembler of the cannons nicknamed botafogo, the crown offered some land in Brazil, which we now know as Botafogo
For Portuguese Caravel is substituted by caravela de descobrir and caravela redonda. All rest are supposed to be unique, no more privateer and frigate substitute.
I will also tend to add
Grande Explorador (Great Explorer), names like Vasco da Gama and Afonso itself, where great admirals and but also great merchants, so substitutes great admiral with some great merchant features.
CONCLUSION - Since Portuguese units is all about boats seems pretty balanced to me
Portugal:
Nau,
Nau do Trato,
Grande Explorador
Afonso:
Flor do Mar,
Caravela Redonda
Joao II:
Caravela de Descobrir,
Botafogo
Next buildings and districts.