Multiplayer is addicting. It's so satisfying to know you are playing sentient intelligence, as opposed to a yield steroided ai.
At any given time there is a small chance of catching a Free For All MP game of randos. One guy will quit right away because he has a bad start. Another will quit as soon as he realizes he started next to Mongolia. One more will quit after having a settler stolen. Then several humans will play for a while, warring each other into stagnation, while one guy you haven't met yet dominates the score. Most people quit as they are losing a war or are about to be conquered. Then, when about 3 people remain everyone will agree that the score leader has one and quit.
Some hero hosts don't ban. Many do. They usually ban scythia, sumeria, and korea. Sometimes they ban defender or faith and god of forge pantheons.
Also, call me crazy, but I think people complaining about domination in MP are missing out on an appreciation for where civilization really came from, and where it will always return to: War. Ancient Era is supposed to be war filled, that's why you get no war monger penalties. Human players, just like throughout history, will develop diplomatically civil relationships only AFTER they stalemate each other in war, or have bigger fish to fry.