The water balance between Italians, Vikings, Japanese and Portuguese is very good right now but how can we get more civs up there?
I think Koreans are the closest to these 4 but not having Demos makes them a lot less flexible and very weak against Fire ships with Careening. (Turtle ships are a meme and not at all useful) Saracens and Byzantines are also somewhat viable but not as good as the top 4. On some maps Lithuanians, Mongols and Persians are good because of there fast feudal times but they fall of during the late game. (witch is fine because they are very strong in feudal/castle age)
I think Koreans are the closest to these 4 but not having Demos makes them a lot less flexible and very weak against Fire ships with Careening. (Turtle ships are a meme and not at all useful) Saracens and Byzantines are also somewhat viable but not as good as the top 4. On some maps Lithuanians, Mongols and Persians are good because of there fast feudal times but they fall of during the late game. (witch is fine because they are very strong in feudal/castle age)