Should I play BG1 first?

[NoSeKe]

Pretty much the title says it all. Thanks.

[GKL206]

Yes. Firstly the story continues so if you start BG2 before playing BG1 you find out the ending, spoiling part of the fun of BG1 before you've looked at it.
Secondly it's one big story of how your character starts out as a nobody wearing a dress and carrying a stick who should be very wary of bears and gradually becomes super powerful: you lose a lot by jumping in half way through.
Thirdly BG2 is a very complex game with lots of options and unless you're pretty familiar with D&D and games of this type it's very easy to become over-whelmed by all the options and confused. "I've got all these spells, I don't even know which to memorise, let alone which to use in a particular situation." I tried to play BG2 before BG1 and gave up very quickly because I found it too confusing. But if you start with BG1 you pick up abiliies gradually, givng you time to experiment and find out what works when.
Everyone has their own opinion and there are other people who don't like BG1 and only like BG2 but mine is that you're much better off starting with 1.

[Capt.Luke]

yes you need those gold pantalon and the 6 tomes :P

[NoSeKe]

Originally posted by GKL206:

Yes. Firstly the story continues so if you start BG2 before playing BG1 you find out the ending, spoiling part of the fun of BG1 before you've looked at it.
Secondly it's one big story of how your character starts out as a nobody wearing a dress and carrying a stick who should be very wary of bears and gradually becomes super powerful: you lose a lot by jumping in half way through.
Thirdly BG2 is a very complex game with lots of options and unless you're pretty familiar with D&D and games of this type it's very easy to become over-whelmed by all the options and confused. "I've got all these spells, I don't even know which to memorise, let alone which to use in a particular situation." I tried to play BG2 before BG1 and gave up very quickly because I found it too confusing. But if you start with BG1 you pick up abiliies gradually, givng you time to experiment and find out what works when.
Everyone has their own opinion and there are other people who don't like BG1 and only like BG2 but mine is that you're much better off starting with 1.

That was a very very useful an complete answer. Thanks!

[.//slayer]

It's actually fine if you find BG1 not up your alley and decide to play BG2 first. I couldn't get too far in BG1 because the game's focus was on exploration, while BG2 emphasised plot and linear quests that are rich with story. Then, after beating BG2 two or three times, I decided to finally check BG1 and it was finally bearable and beatable for me.

[DarkExcalibur42]

You don't /need/ to, but it will be much more satisfying if you do.

[Wayfinder]

I played through BG2 a few times before ever touching BG1. The game is quite satisfying without playing its prequel, but many references to past events will initially be confusing. After a few playthroughs, almost everything will come to make sense. I would advise playing BG1 first, but if you can't stand the original, as I initially did, skipping to BG2 may be advisable. BG2 is vastly better in terms of story, quests, party members, weapons, spells, enemies, and so much more. It's just a judgment call. Either approach is perfectly workable.

[Longevity]

better to do 1 before 2 unless you find 1 so boring that you want to stop playing. 1 does not have nearly as much of a focused experience as 2.

[J]

GKL206 explained it best.

I will add that there is an immense feeling of satisfaction going through the trilogy with a single character. It's 300+ hour adventure and when you are done you will look back at it as one of your fondest gaming memories.

[Arkangel of Mono]

I have yet to play 1 and currently working through 2. I do enjoy the second one though despite the fact that I am sometimes lost in references to people and places. Coming from a D&D background does help a lot though as others have said there is a vast number of spells and lore thrown at you. The story line is a hard boil epic and the world has the gritty feel of D&D if you've ever played with a good DM. Some of the rules are bent a little from 2nd ED which is fustrating but well explained if you take time to read. This game really isn't so much a hack and slasher as a carefully planned game of adventure.

[Na_..]

Originally posted by DarkExcalibur42:

You don't /need/ to, but it will be much more satisfying if you do.

That is point.

Playing BG1 will give you better undertanding of story line and main character. As well as some stats bonus from special books like someone here mentioned it (only if you carry on with the same char). BUT it isn't that much necessary to still have full fun in the BG2.

If you are woried about starting player level, it is always set as ~7 in BG2. It is due to fact you can use old BG1 char, but maybe you won't.

If you are planning to play BG1 anyway, better start from it. There are some changes in the game system which you will miss in older version. AND - BG2 has spoilers of BG1 storyline (just like reading 2nd part of book before 1st one)

[Kyle]

For what it's worth, I played BG2 before BG1 when the game first came out and I managed to fill in the gaps alright. Admittedly I realized on my second playthrough how much I had missed. Maybe pick up a quick synopsis of the first game if you want, or just play it first. It's a decent game.