ports aggresive..... vs. the top civs against a competent opponent it is not advisable.
TOP civs Iroq, spain, dutch, otto
Iroq can either Fast fortress or rush.
If he rushes, he will beat down anything you got, for one he will have a forward travois, he will go after your 2nd TC and unless you place it right away he will kill it. Which means he will have map control. He will ship kanya and have twice as many hawks and aennas as you have crossbow. Even if you ship 8 crossbow, 6 muskets and have constant production of crossbows you will be outgunned. And lets not forget his explorer that will one shot a crap load of your troops...
Ok so he Fast fortresses... He has a forward travois. You knock it down. you move close... another travois... hmmm You knock it down. He hits fortress BANG forest prowler spam up your you know what oh and an explorer that is upgraded and can now really work over your troops with his lameshot.
Dutch... Skirms, hit and run, hit and run, hit and run, hit and run,hit and run, hit and run, hit and run, hit and run,hit and run, hit and run, hit and run, hit and run,hit and run, hit and run, hit and run, hit and run. If your enemy stays and fights then your probably just fighting a nub.
Spain... similar concept, but you have more of a chance if you go heavy musket. But still he has better shipments and units. Just that fact will mean your loss unless he decides to FF with no troops. Which means your fighting a nub...probably.
Otto... erm do I have to? They age up way before you, and you don't have a good counter to jans or abus in colonial.
It can be done, but against someone that doesn't use a strict build order and uses his units and shipments to his advantage, portugal will lose.
I recently cross/pike rushed a dutch player. I beat him thourouly, but the guy stayed and fought with his skirms, and thats why he lost. Had he hit and run it would have easily gone the other way.