Should i play the first game first?

[Maia]

any link between them?
i played them more than 10 years ago but cant remember ♥♥♥♥ but im in the mood for a replay

[QWEEDDY2]

Do not start from Rise of the Elves. 100%. it not a Disciples 2 (separate expansion mean completely differ game new installment in the series).

For Disciples 2 itself there is TWO intro where CANON ending explained. Also there is CANON story from Dis1 manual, Dis2 manual, Dis2 Gold manual.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e_A650OAyM

Also Dis2 Gold and RotE manual have continue offcial canon ending for Dark Prophecy and then Gallean' Return story. So if you dont want spoilers - skip that parts.

You dont need to play first game at all.
Still some details you is miss, but minor (what happened with Empire Queen (charmed and transfer to half-demon then killed by... hmm... humans themself by mistake? or dwarf... i dont remember for sure)

[QWEEDDY2]

Maximum you should (probably) check intro\ending videos for faction (total 5). here is a channel with endings
http://www.youtube.com/user/Henzador

Here direct links (maybe spoiler for someone)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAh3ouUEbrA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoSKfBFDnZQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5jlK6GjePI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYHE8hZ59oM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76OluGzHVng
Video is half-canon cause opposite from faction to faction.

[QWEEDDY2]

So for canon story you dont need first game.
Still better start some skirmish maps in Dis2, but complete story in Disciples 1 first.

Disciples 1 have some story and gameplay features. But most likely it be hard\not-interested to play it after Disciples 2. Im not sure about DLC maps and skirmish in general...
But original campaign have only 4 missions for each factions. So you can play them and than move to Disciples 2 which ones is waaay better.

[QWEEDDY2]

UPD: direct links

Steam as origianl US 4 CD Gold edition do not include pdf file for Gold manual. It be available digitally on old developer website. Now GOG have it. If you not have GOG version (better buy both Steam and GOG cause both miss something and even original 4 CD Gold have some minor missing\mistaken placed maps) i can provide you link to manuals...

http://disk.yandex.ru/d/M0XF6vcYZLLm4/Disciples

https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/281450/manuals/manual.pdf