That looks nothing at all like Grum. Even if you don't know it is a Dark Souls character, the only thing even remotely similar to Grum is the loincloth... exists... makes me wonder, do the community managers even play the game? NO ONE that has seen the Grum card art would look at that 'fanart' and think oh cool, that is a neat version of Grum.
I've seen a decent amount of this kind of stuff in the art contests. I stopped entering months ago. Even though I placed both times I entered and it is a great way to get upvotes and stuff... if they are going to continue the art contest they really need to do a little better with the judging and screening.
The Raging Impaler skin is also not a good look. There are probably a million drawings of bull-like creatures in that pose but the line work completely gives away that was traced from the Gorgon.
I think Splinterlands team is going to need to get more used to being under a microscope. I, and many others, tend to give them a bit of a pass because we like the game and it has humble beginnings with a small team. Letting that kind of stuff slide a year ago was one thing when 1000 people knew about the game. Now it is one of the biggest names in the space, they have a larger team, and hundreds of thousands of people are looking at everything they do. They are going to have to cut this crap out and do better.
Very well said.
I like listening to AMAs once in a while, and them praising the Chaos Legion art and the community growth is so nice, it makes me feel excited and glad that I am part of this community, and yet they let stuff like this slide... and then it feels like a slap to the face.
I won't stop making fanarts, cuz I enjoy the game, but I really don't want anything to do with the community contests, cuz they just leave bitter taste in my mouth, after seeing this happen again and again.
Maybe it would be worth trying to get this as a question in the AMA. "When is Splinterlands going to take art theft and fake fanart contest entries more seriously?" I have to imagine the guys at the top have no clue this is happening.