>>Grave robbin mechanics kick in. The shield returns to the spot it fell at. <GROAN> By the time i can make it there of course the shield is gone. I have no idea if they logged in someone else to pick it up or had a friend do it or if someone else entirely grabed it.<<

This is my pet peeve about the present game mechanics for items that drop when you die. Even in the case of a friend or helpful person picking up your sword/shield/whatever, if they're disconnected afterwards (which frequently happens during invasions) the present mechanics (which were presumably designed to make item loss less likely) virtually guarantee whatever was picked up will be lost, whether to the janitor or a passer-by. Now if items dropped at your location instead of the place you died, maybe it would be some use...

I lost an old festival topaz-hilted scimitar that way today. There are probably better forged ones these days, but a good friend who no longer plays gave that one to me - I don't really want a "better" replacement. :(