Lets say 1 very talented player is attacked by 3 average players and there happens to be a 3rd party playing just watching the whole thing.  The good player kills one of his attackers and then their battle moves off into the distance a bit.  My question is will the 3rd party player be able to go in loot the dead player even though he didn't kill the dead player, or will the loot be resereved for at least a short period of time for the player that did the actual killing?

A corpse is a corpse. Anyone can loot it.

Anyone can loot anyone !
Expect to have a lot of ninja looting in this game

One of the many prices of total freedom.

But remember there is no "loot all" button, you will have to look at everything in the other characters inventory and decide what items you want to pick up.

During that time you will be a easy target. You dont search a full backpack in five seconds you know. And threre is supposed to very small inventorys, with both weight and mass limit. So you have to choose what you want to throw away and what to keep.

Plus, if someone has multiple bags in their backpack and their items are all jumbled up and on top of each other it'll take a while just to sort though it.

Originally posted by Ktinos

Anyone can loot anyone !
Expect to have a lot of ninja looting in this game

Well actually "ninja looting" may be the least viable in this game than anywhere else!!!

Yes in the scenario the OP described...if he finishes off the people, it wouldnt really be ninja looting since he played it hte best and was the last one standing.

But you actually cant "ninja loot"....anyone, even same race same guild etc...can attack anyone.  So if someone in your group ninja loots a corpse...guess what, they are about to get killed and get the loot right back.

Now will there be game mechanics that allow someone to grab something and get out of there real fast if people trust them enough, maybe, we dont really know those kind of details yet.

But the "ninja looting" that occurs in a game like WoW wont really be possible.  As in....raid boss dies, player loots it...and just stands their laughing because he isnt attackable.  Then he hearthstones away and puts it on the AH.

That plus in this kind of game, if you do manage to ninja loot by being fast and sneaky...and anyone notices...your rep is on the line and prepare to become a professional thief because no one is going to trust you again besides other thieves.

God i cant wait for this game.

Originally posted by daarco

But remember there is no "loot all" button, you will have to look at everything in the other characters inventory and decide what items you want to pick up.

During that time you will be a easy target. You dont search a full backpack in five seconds you know. And threre is supposed to very small inventorys, with both weight and mass limit. So you have to choose what you want to throw away and what to keep.

Small Inventories is not true....

much like early UO, looting corpses  other than yours or your kills is allowed but flags you as a criminal which makes u attackable without reprisal from npc  guards or reputation police.