ok so instead of running around killing a truck load of cows who all look the same, and hope that in their carcasses is a SoJ or storm shield... because any of them carried shields?
what im proposing is to limit the gear dropped to the type of monster killed. for example:
you find a skeleton warrior wielding a sword, and you bash him. His sword drops. Its a rixot keen short sword, or superior long sword. Whatever
you are killing cows on the farm and one walks up to you with a green cap on. OH SH-, hes got a shako! Item recognition like on players.