an unpredictable AI is tougher then a predictable one, You don't want opponents to be passive, push overs or predictable. If they trash you, declare war and trash them back
by all means, try the mods but be warned some of them have genecidal races who just plain don't like you
and some will just drive you nuts. Don't expect the expected or for them to be predictable, if you do, your in for a short game
Enjoy, experiment, also you might want to change your initial settings, don't use neutral races in set up, set your settings to med or high, low or med ai races as well....
just some ideas mac