Frequently when I kill people they complain about me looting 1-3 items. Most people do not, but a decent amount seem to. I usually don't take any more than I need. Sometimes I take something just to look at it. It is very rare that I take more than 3 things. When I kill someone one and then they complain about being horribly looted, how should I respond? Just ignoring them seems like bad RP, but so does trying to explain looting when someone is obviously complaining in an OOC manner. They don't usually "break character" but some do and others are borderline close. Even complaining in the first place should be OOC for most roles. What is the appropriate response?

I don't respond. Complaining is borderline OOC by itself and I look at it like, if I'm not going to say anything nice I won't say anything at all.

Now if you are playing some big stoic bad ass then yes. However if you just royally beat the piss out of a real person, and then on top of that took some of their stuff, they are going to complain. With me I don't complain, but I'll often promise retribution. I know some go ooc, but don't confuse retribution with whining or complaining.

1. Always assume that they are acting IC and respond to them like your character would.
2. If they go OOC, assume that they are acting IC and respond to them like your character would.
3. If it is impossible for you to assume that they're acting IC and thus respond to them IC, don't respond to them.

Stay IC and don't be a douche, no matter what they say. If your opponent gets a rage fit over a piece of gear, that's his problem and shame, not yours.

Thats if they're particularly annoying (Jikahl comes to mind).

Generally speaking, if you drop whatever other item you were using on the ground, they'll know you took it to replace, and wont complain. No guarantees though.

A bit of an aside, but one thing to remember is that you should never expect to get equivalent treatment regarding looting back. I take the occasional (or regular, yeesh) upgrade on my current, but I've still had several get all corpses dropped on me lately.

If it is blatant OC crap, I would give them a cursory IC response and do my best to keep it IC from there. But if it gets bad, I just stop replying. If it is horrible (like they spam you abusive tells), use ignore or maybe send up a pray.

There are a few people who will complain no matter what. You get used to it and learn ways to brush them off. Most people, when PKed, might give an RP response which can relate to looted items (i.e. "you took the ring my betrothed gave me, return it or I shall hunt you to the ends of Thera!"). After all, post PK RP happens a lot, and sometimes it's an effort to get a dialogue going. If that is the case, RP it out. If you're not solely looting to be a jackass, 95% of people don't care when they lose something (especially if you're wearing it) and won't voice blatant OC complaints.

I have found, even with the whiniest of people who go OC or really close, if you put in the work, you can get it to tolerable RP. I did this with a few people. But it will take effort on your part, and it won't always get you RP from them. Some people are just whiners an sore losers.

People over exagerate looting severity. It's nothing to worry about. Just keep playing and having fun and don't let a few people ruin the fun of CF for you with their bitchfests.