Marketing aside, I think L5R and V:TES solid player base comes from relying on relationships between players as opposed to building a system where players are only competing. Players of L5R and V:TES already love and share those worlds through fiction, role playing, board games, etc. Playing the card games are just another way of experiencing those worlds. Comic book properties are hurt because comic book fans don’t have a strong community base from which to build a player base. Comic fans are naturally fractured to DC vs. Marvel, Superman or Batman, etc. While the initial pull is playing in the comic book universe something needs to retain those people. The prize system as retention device only plays toward the contentious relationships of fandom as people are attempting to be the best player of the group as opposed to enjoying playing in the world that they love with friends.