One of the “bad” gangs in the Mojave, many players are confused when they gain evil karma for taking Powder Ganger items that are laying around. Why am I losing karma for stealing from Powder Gangers?
You are losing karma for stealing from Powder Gangers because they’re a faction. Powder Gangers aren’t random raiders or gang members, they’re a full-fledged faction.
Since the player can side with the Powder Gangers, enter their base, and do quests, you lose karma for stealing.
Why you’re losing karma for stealing from Powder Gangers
Many players side with Goodsprings during the “Ghost Town Gunfight” quest and become vilified by the Powder Gangers. If you were to side with them, you’d learn they’re a fully-fleshed out faction.
The NCR Correctional Facility acts as the Powder Gangers home base. If you’re on decent terms with them, or pay a bribe at the door, you can enter the facility.
Eddie, leader of the Powder Gangers in the facility, can give the player side quests. While at the facility, you can speak with Meyers, a former inmate and sheriff, about becoming the new sheriff of Primm.
This goes to show that not everyone in the Powder Gangers is necessarily evil. They have some, albeit twisted, reason for what they do. Powder Gangers are far more organized and intelligent than some random raider group out in the wastes.
It’s worth noting that New Vegas’ karma system is a little bit broken. For example, the player gains positive karma for defeating Fiends around the New Vegas area.
Despite being obviously evil and attacking you first, the game still forces you into gaining karma after the attack. New Vegas has very pre-defined lines on who is good or who is bad in terms of karma distribution.
So that’s the answer. You are losing karma for stealing from Powder Gangers because they’re a faction. Even if you consider them evil, they’re still an organized group and not the same as random raiders.