[MegaBlues]

I would like for more penalties to become a reality, but usually, what decides who loses an arm or their head?

PvP.

And what's the current state of PvP?

Before any of this can become a reality, the game needs to be heavily modified. There's already enough salt going around due to completely optional OOC sparring; can you imagine what would happen if fights like this were able to dictate a character's development?

Also, for what Sderg said, I've heard that people have attempted to kill others, have failed, and then refused to die themselves. And this was supported by GMs, due to the rule that you aren't allowed to force death upon others, unless you're part of the Empire. I.E. a GM.