So, you may have clicked on this guide with the question in mind

"What the hell is this guy talking about? Hats are purely cosmetic, what effects could they possibly posses?"

Well, that's exactly the question that I intend to answer here today good sir/mam.

Now, I previously touched slightly on this topic in my F2P vs P2P guide.

http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=288875758&searchtext=F2P+vs+P2p

Now, maybe you've read it, maybe you haven't. But this topic is a little similar to that one in the fact that it does involve something surrounding Freemium's and Premium's, that of course being hats (duh)


"What are hats?" -asked nobody

Because I'm fairly certain everybody reading this guide knows about cosmetics.

So allow me to waste your time no longer and get right into the guide.

They are some effects that are clearly noticeable in the game. That, of course, being that hats make you stand out, which is both good and bad.

It's good because it pretty much means you're the one of the 1st people a Medic would choose to pocket. That Scorching Flames Team Captain sure makes you look professional to that Medic.

But there's a disadvantage. Allow me to paint you an example. You see, the map is Upward. You have low health and are being chased by a Pyro. There're no medkits nearby and not a single person on your team wanted to play medic. You aren't a heavy with a sandvich or any class that can self-heal. It's just you and your Towering Pillar of Hats hiding in that corner as a Pyro comes looking for you because he knows you're low health. He turns the corner and see this big thing of hats sticking out from that little half-wall on the level above Blu's second spawn. He knows you're there now so he turns the corner and cooks your ass.

That's one example where hats had negative effects, let us look at another.

The map is still upward. You're a demoman and there's a sentry in the 1st sentry spot (because there always is.) The Engineer has no idea that you're there, and you're prepared to let down a rain of sticky bomb hell on him. But wait, he turns around and sees that sunbeams unusual effect you have peered around the corner. He walks over to investigate and discovers a Blu demoman (you) sitting around with a sticky launcher. He whacks you with his Southern Hospitality or whatever he's using and calls for help. He's also using the Short Circuit so now that he knows you're there there's nothing you can do except retreat. But alas, his friends are coming to his aid. As you look to head back to your team a scout runs you down with his scattergun.

That's a second example where an unusual effect cost you a destroyed sentry.

Now I hear you saying

"Pfft, that's so situational and doesn't really even matter."

Well, there is another part to this besides physical.

I want you to imagine the first time you ever equipped a hat. Are You picturing it? Good.

I want you to remember what was going through your mind, what feelings you were... eh.. feeling.

I'm gonna take a guess and say that it made you feel pretty damn good. Maybe it was a gibus though, and you found out the hat sucked.

But wait, now you equip a real, non-achievement hat! Oh Boy! Now you must feel super that you have a real hat! I remember that feeling, and hopefully, you do too.

So why did I bring it up?

That feeling that you get from looking good actually helps in game.

"Say WHAT!?"

You did not hear that incorrectly dear reader, that feeling of confidence you get when equipping hats actually gives you just that, confidence. Confidence is a key part of any competitive game, whether it be Video Games or even Sports. Being confident simply makes you better. That is a major effect of hats.

So what's the downside?

The Psychological Effects apply to other players as well.

In some cases this may be good, like the Medic pocketing you. But in other cases, not so much.

Put yourself in these situations.

You're wearing a gibus, you're running around as scout doing pretty decent but not tippity-top score level good. And you running alongside another scout, you're both going to the control point when suddenly, a wild Pyro appears. He can only chase after one of you. The other scout is wearing typical cosmetics while you are wearing gibus and pyrovision.

This point may differ depending on the Pyro but here's 2 ways the Pyro would determine who to go for.

A) You, he sees your hats as a lack of skill and will see you as an easier target and as such, a free kill. (Most common in pubs)

B) The Other guy, he takes him as more of a threat and decides to take him out so he's not as much of a threat to his team. (More common in comp)

Either way, he had no idea of either persons skill level, but instead made his judgement based on the cosmetics of the people he could chase.

Example 2

You're an unusual wearing badass, clearing servers in your way. Nothing can stop you. You're carrying your team to victory. But Valve's ♥♥♥♥♥♥ item servers go down again. So now you look like every other joe schmoe in the game. The other team isn't going to remember you because your cosmetics are no longer the same. They'll assume you just joined the server. So they may see you as an easy target, which means more people coming after you, and as such, more pressure. They may remember you once you kill a few and they remember your name but until then, there's a good chance that they are not going to see you as that big a threat based on your hats.

Those were just 2 examples of how hats psychologically effect gameplay. But I haven't talked about another part of the game yet.

Have you played it? Probably right? I mean I'm pretty sure most people have at this point. Well, then I'm going to assume you're familiar with the MVM meta and it's elitists yeah?

For all you Freemium's out there who got their free Smissmas MVM ticket, have you ever joined a game and then immediately get vote kicked, or, at least, have to prove your worth to the players. I'll assume yes.

For all you Premium's with good cosmetics and a few tours under their belt. Have you ever had to prove your worth to them or get vote kicked?

And for the Premium's with really expensive items and cosmetics such as Aussie's and Unusuals. Have you ever had to prove your worth to them or maybe get vote kicked?

My guess is it goes something like this

Freemium's "All the time"
Middle-Class Premium's "Sometimes"
Upper-Class Premium's "Almost Never"

Am I right? Let me know in the comments section.

Factoring tours out of this for a second. Say you are joining with 0 tours.

If you join a server with a gibus what will people think?
"This guy's a F2P noob with no tours, kick him"

If you join a server with decent cosmetics what will people think?
"This guy might be good, or maybe an alt-account or something, let's see if he's good."

If you join a server with an unusual what will people think?
"This guy is probably pretty good but just hasn't gotten around to playing MVM yet, let's keep him, he might be good."

Again, that's probably what would happen.

Anyways, I haven't played enough MVM to say this is always the case but I am familiar with it.

(Note this only really applies to Mann Up, if you see it happening on Boot Camp then whoever is doing it is just dumb.)

I guess that about wraps things up here,

"So do I wear hats or no?"

It's up to you in the end. For MVM then yes definitely but otherwise it's personal preference. Nobody is forcing you to wear these things it's just something to keep in mind next game you join.

Now this guide won't apply to every single situation in the game, since there are thousands upon thousands of people who play this game, and not all of them is going to be the same. But this is just a generalization (I'm talking about the Psychological parts here). Physical effects just boil down to how observant the other team is.

What did you think of the guide? Post about it in the comments section below. I'd love to hear what you all have to say.

This ain't my first rodeo ya know. I've made other guides that you may want to check out.

http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=303158788&searchtext=F2P+vs+P2p

http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=495145675&searchtext=F2P+vs+P2p

http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=518517160

http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=522992228

http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=879064616

Also, I have a youtube channel called exactly the same as my username.