In patch 0.2.3.0, we changed how player bodies behave in the game world. Each body now stays on the map for 60 minutes, and it no longer disappears if the player dies repeatedly. This also introduces some potential confusion, which we aim to clear up.
What stays the same after the changes
As before, every player can loot their own body after dying for the first time. There is no change; you can loot your body just as before if you get killed.
What is new
When you die the second time, your original body will stay on the map, but you cannot loot it. You will be notified that the body is too old to loot when you interact with it. This is to preserve the original looting mechanic where your older bodies were despawned if you died the second time and you couldn't recover the loot from them. Other players will be able to loot your original body.
What are the benefits?
These changes will let players get more loot from other players that would otherwise be lost or let your squad mates save the gear for you when you die again on your way to retrieve your gear (in the Warfare mode). Additionally, there is a tactical element to it - if you find a dead body, it means that a fight took place there not that long ago, and you should be more cautious.
How do these changes apply to the PVE mode Joint Operations?
The looting specifics remain the same on PVE as before - you can only loot your latest body, and players cannot loot other players' bodies, even though they now stay on the map for 60 minutes.
Other scenarios where you cannot loot your body
If you leave the server by ending the expedition or timing out due to the AFK timer, you cannot loot your body, even the latest one. It will be marked as too old again.
If you die and there is a crash before you can loot your body, you have 5 minutes to reconnect to the game. If you reconnect within this time limit, you can still loot your body. However, reconnecting after the limit passes will mark your body too old, and you won't be able to loot it.
How does the aggressor system tie into this?
If you get marked as an aggressor, you won't be able to loot even your latest body (even after the aggressor status has expired). You will be notified that you cannot loot your body due to the aggressor status.
Will faction members be marked as aggressors if they loot my old body?
Yes, unless they are in the same squad as you. The aggressor rules also apply to your old bodies.