I'm semi-resurrecting this thread.. played a long OCC game this weekend, but what was new about this one was that Pedro was my neighbor, starting a mere 18 tiles northeast from my capital. We co-existed peacefully for at least the first 2000 years of the game, and then, when I was down to a mere three military units (after another defensive war where I'd fended-off Shaka), Pedro's screen pops-up and he tells me that he can't stand to pass-up such a great opportunity to get rid of a competitor.
Then the music begins. So damn glorious.
In my next scenario map, I think he's going to be my neighbor again. Oh yes.
(And yeah, I was able to survive his sneak attack. In the next turn, I got cannons - just in time. It was thrilling.)