Advice for a Newbie

[icosahedron]

If those two pools in the first image are supposed to have bevelled rims like a modern shower tray, you could use the technique I used for my shower tray.

Cut out the overall pool shape as a separate drawing (you'll import it again later). Take this new pool-only drawing and select a region inside it. Invert your selection, so you have the rim selected, then hit your bevel command. That should give you an internally bevelled rim. Import your rimmed pool back into the original drawing.

I probably have no more 'flying hours' on Gimp than you, so there may be a better way, but it should work for you.

I can't believe it - I'm actually giving a tutorial on Gimp!

[EldritchNumen]

I also have a minor suggestion about the first map.

Generally speaking, shadows should fall upon the lower ground (because the light source is almost always above and casts the shadow downward). In your map, the shadows lie on the raised portion of the map. This appears--to me at least-- to indicate that the raised portion is on the left (with the pillars), while the right side is the lower side. (Sort of like those pictures that in the negative space look like a young woman, but in the positive space look like an old woman... ). Changing the direction of your gradient (i.e. from solid on the left to solid on the right) and moving the shadows should solve the problem.

Like I said, it's a relatively minor flaw, but it is worth keeping in mind since you have been working with shadows. I've found that making shadows fall naturally isn't terribly hard and greatly improves the look of a map. Happy mapping!

EDIT: D'oh! Upon re-reading your first post, it occurred to me that I think you meant the left to be the raised side. My fault... *smacks forehead*