Let fighters start with a buckler

[duvessa]

Because they are weaker than almost every other background.

[Abominae]

If Fighters warrant a buff, just give them +0 Gauntlets & Boots in addition to Scale Mail and Shield (this is assuming Fi is designed to be a defensive background). Or just give them a +2 Scale Mail. You're not going to use a +2 Scale Mail all game, so it is a decent AC boost until you can find more suitable armor for your build. You could also increase their starting dexterity a tad bit.
I don't think Fighters are an overly difficult background, and I don't think they necessarily need a buff. I do think they have a small niche in the fact they guarantee significant SH value extremely early on. No other background currently enables that, and I enjoy having that option available.

[Klown]

Because they are weaker than almost every other background.

Seems pretty easy to me. Nothing hurts you except the worst possible monsters for early & mid game.
I just got one to level 21 without a God and training shields.

But buff my favorite background please.

[Kalma]

Higher starting shield skill would buff both defense and offense (IDK what the number is now and what it means).

[Hurkyl]

Fighters are underpowered?

^Why are they seen as UP by some?

Because they are weaker than almost every other background.

Ah, some people see Fighters as underpowered because some people see fighters as underpowered. Thanks, that cleared things right up!

[Sar]

He means that equipment, skills and stats are worse than what most other backgrounds get. I assume he is speaking from experience.

[Mankeli]

Fighters are underpowered?

^Why are they seen as UP by some?

Because they are weaker than almost every other background.

Ah, some people see Fighters as underpowered because some people see fighters as underpowered. Thanks, that cleared things right up!

Basic weapon, shit armour, no god, no book, no items. Pretty much only thing they got going for them is their shield which is actually very good if you, for some reason, want to play OpFi.

[Hurkyl]

Basic weapon, [redacted] armour, no god, no book, no items. Pretty much only thing they got going for them is their shield which is actually very good if you, for some reason, want to play OpFi.

Ah, how foolish of me. That background that starts with plate armor and a morningstar is obviously superior, I don't know what I was thinking.

[Sar]

Do you want people to go through every Crawl background and thoroughly explain to you why do they think it is better than Fighter?

[galehar]

The OP's proposal hasn't gain any traction (it's pretty bad IMO) and this thread has just degenerated into pointless arguments about background balance. Locked.