What you should do:
#1) Don't play with many worlds. Seriously. The AI knows where every world is from the start (A huge game ruinner). So, they build the precise number of colony ships ASAP, and send them out to grab all worlds as fast as they can manage. You won't know where any worlds are (you can no longer just head to stars to find them first). So play with rare stars and low world counts. This means that the AI won't end up bigger then you, and therefore decide to bully you or annex you later in the game.
#2) Play on the low levels of AI smarts. That's right. You heard me. Play with the AI dumbed down, and work your way up.
#3) You will always be hated. This is due to not only the Diplomacy missing, but the Moral events. You start at the super evil rating. And have no way to change that in game. Whoospie!
#4) Always adjust the race you are starting out as. I've noticed that the humans on my game generations tend to start with a lot of negatives. Have to go in, and "pick my 10" to get them to something reasonable. (THIS IS A PAIN! STOP IT SD!)
Also, apply the tiny or small game rules from GC1 for starting off. (IE, kicking your spending to 100%, setting your tax rate at your preferred level, etc etc etc).
By keeping the world count *down*, you can keep your empire in line with the AIs, so they won't immediately come after you because you are so weak. There is, however, not much you can do about being the evilest empire ever, and them coming after you for that. Other then making a strong empire, and using trade to make them overlook your evil ways.
