People seem to be assuming Portugal will be a clone of Spain because they are geographically close. Which is a really silly way of judging a faction. Prussia is next to Poland-Lithuania, yet no one has claimed they will be identical.

At this point in history there was very little to differentiate world powers. Most factions will have near identical unit rosters, as they did at the time. Portugal will be as similar to Spain as Spain will be to France, or Britain will be to Prussia. Very similar units with different uniforms, maybe different stats and one or two special units for flavor.

The only way to truly differentiate factions would be to start making things up. And we know where that leads (flaming pigs and Roman ninja).

People suggest Portugal shouldn't be in because they were on the decline. But the US didn't even exist. I know who I'd pick to be more likely to win in a fight .