Unfortunately for you, I played better with Rome, and I am statistically a very unskilled player, so your introduction to the ranking isn't a good one. But if you're really concerned with that, I suggest to play with the Zulus.
I just finished another game: Maya, 10073 points, 1950 AD, space race. I seriously thought I'd lose my first game on this map, but somehow I managed to squeeze a space ship out of my civvie. I couldn't eliminate the Incas quickly - took too long and so Montezuma attacked me, and was backed up by Ragnar. It slowed my development, and by the time I finally had conquered all of South America Mali was doing terribly well in pursuit of a cultural victory, so I had to attack him. After that one after the other declared war on me and I had no choice but to defend.
India and Mali are the only civs I still have to play.