This is the first post in a planned 'Common Question' series, where I provide a definitive answer to common questions I've seen from newcomers to TRP, askTRP, BecomeAMan, and even PPD.

The inaugural question to tackle is the oldest one in the book, for men: Do looks matter? The answer to that question is obviously, yes, and you'd be a fool to think that your physical attractiveness (or lack thereof) has absolutely no bearing on your ability to be successful with women. The better question, and the one I'll be addressing here (as you might've guessed from the title) is, How much do looks matter to a man's success in the SMV?

There are two basic answers to this question, both with some merit, and both ignoring certain factors.

Answer # 1: Looks matter little: Multiple studies and simple observation will consistently show that women look at more factors than men do and apply more weight to factors like personality and status, whereas men consider attractiveness more important and consider fewer factors. Even in the meat market dating pool that is a nightclub, a man with presence and status can pull easier than a guy who is handsome and shy. This effect is only compounded for LTRs, where the comparative importance of a man's looks is reduced in favor of security traits (income, stability, caring, etc).

Answer #2: Looks are all that matter: This is a view most commonly held by guys who are SMV < 5, and for them, it happens to be completely true. At that stage, a guy's looks actively prevent him from getting laid. He isn't even failing at it, he has fallen short of the barrier to entry. For these guys, it doesn't matter what other qualities they have, women aren't attracted enough to even entertain the idea of fucking them, and so they fail solely because of there looks.

The Right Answer: Similar to a building, physical attractiveness is the foundation of a man's SMV. On a strong foundation, a man could build a single bedroom home, a tower bearing his name, or a sprawling mansion, depending on his resources and ingenuity. But without a strong foundation, even the richest and most talented man is limited to shanty huts and mobile homes.

Likewise, a man with a foundation level of physical good looks is limited in his success with women only by his frame and his abilities, but even the most able of men cannot become successful with women if he has not built the underlying foundation of his appearance.

Tip Gaiusscaevolus for their post.