Let's face it, man: SHANG RULES.
No ifs and buts, it's plain as that.
For someone to be able to win to Shang with any other Civ, he needs:
- To be much faster than the Shang player.
- To have a godly spot, while the Shang has no stragglers or shore fish around.
- Th play a really bad Shang opponent
- Etc. etc.
In summary:
If the player quality is relativelly balanced, or the map is not that much unbalanced, then the Shang ALWAYS has the advantage.
Resourdes do come in at a glorious rate when you have lots of REAL Villagers doing the work.
Continental or Mediterranean are more favorable to Minoan, because of chaper ships.
However, the Shang can go Tool before you and with only 1 or 2 Scout ships ruin that advantage of yours completelly.
Sad, but it's life (and a huge screw-up by ES).