[Nitram Draw]

Definately try the races suggested.
You may want to try this type of set up for a real blood bath. It makes for a fun game once in a while.
Small quadrent 100K starting resources, good homeworld, 10 planets, any starting tech level, only colonize your home planet type, all races have same planet type for homeworld, 5000 points (only use 2-3k for yourself), no nuetrals, 10-15 AI's.
I feel that if I have enough time, I can set my defenses up to where I am almost guaranteed to win. In this set up will have you in a war in 5-10 turns against an AI that can pump out ships so you don't have that cushion.