I think I might have one of those. Guess I'll try then. Though I do prefer writing in story form rather than timeline form. Maybe I'll try both. That just leaves obsessively looking up Classical dynasties and ethnic groups. They were not just simple, culturally homogeneous city-states like the Greeks (correct me if I'm mistaken), they were complex polities in which the more powerful cities held sway over smaller ones with an equally complex networks of alliances. Cities were never outright conquered like in the rest of the world, for some reason Mayans preffered installing puppet rulers like the world of today.
This way it is plausible that one polity can create an "empire" that would be more powerful and far more advanced than the Aztecs and still not as susceptible to a quick conquest due to the automous nature of their under-kings. In OTL, even using the tried-and-true method of manipulating enemies and recruiting locals it took the Spanish almost 200 years to subdue the Maya. Even then a native Mayan state rebelled and lasted for several decades. TTL, without the collapse's decrease of the population, and near total loss of science and literacy, a hegemonical Mayan Empire will not be as prone to the same mistakes Motecuhzoma II made, and even he had a good chance if not for his stupidity.
I'm sure you've seen an Ameri-wank, a Byzantine-wank, and maybe even a Sino-wank. But now it's time for a Maya-wank. Bwahaha.