It\'s not a bug. You were creating a char, the client checks with the server to see if everything\'s valid, but HEY! The server is down... again... So the client gives you a linkdead error and closes.
Oh these shieldmaking points could from pretty much anything, the job of your parents, birth event, childhood hobby\'s, where you grew up, stuff you did in your life.
I seen them too while playing around with the different options, dont remember what caused those points though.
