Leaving Goodsprings to go to Primm I was attacked by Powder Gangers in camp west. After killing all three and talking to Victor (who appeared out of nowhere to help) I went over to the camp to loot it. Everything inside is red con and I lose karma if I take anything.

I hated this in FO3 and I'm pretty sure its going to piss me off in FONV as well. If someone shoots at me, it should be free looting rights if I drop them in the dust.

So am I losing universal karma for looting the camp or just Powder Ganger Faction? I've already decided to destroy the powder gangers this run through so if its only faction with them I don't care. But if its universal faction color me mad, its the same B.S. as the Ten Penny Tower ghouls all over again.

I went and reloaded to come here and ask.

It's Karma. Karma is not the same as faction reputation.

Items don't get conditional faction rules. If it's owned by a faction you can have reputation with, the behavior for items is the same for friendly or hostile. It's stupid, but you'll get over it. You'll get enough loot from looting corpses and non faction containers.

Besides, kill two ferals. You just got one weeks worth of looting taken off of your 'karmic plate', so to speak.

I thought as much... Thanks for the fast answers, I still find it a stupid cheap trick to lower karma when looting the camps of people who just tried to kill you. I was hoping they wouldn't pull it this time around.