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Do you guys recommend playing BG1 before BG2? Or are they stand alone stories?

That's pretty much it, haven't played either (sadly) and was looking to pick one up.
This question / problem has been solved by DubConquerorimage
they are standalone games

but...

there is plot continuity between the games. Though it does not "break the game" not to play 1 first... I would recommend play BG1 then BG2 as both are excellent games
Besides the story, BG2 you start at level 7 or 8 which gives more spells and stuff for your characters, other words it can be overwhelming and hard to get into. BG1 in the other hand has less stuff to learn at start but by starting level 1 you will die more often and is harder to start.
Keep in mind that early levels in AD&D are painful because they're badly balanced. It's just a matter of luck whether you live or die in most encounters until level 3 or so.

If you're not familiar with the system, I'd say starting with BG 2 will be less painful and less likely to make you ragequit.

Plus BG 2 is the better game and you don't really need to play BG first to understand its story. You can always pick up BG 1 later if you like its sequel.
If you have both, I've heard there's a patch that blends them together nicely.

I have both on CD and I've only played through and beaten BG1. I really liked it a lot and I played it maybe 2 years ago. So if you know you're going to play through both, I'd start with #1.

If you've seen just the intro to BG2, it gives away a lot of the things that are mysteries in BG1.
BG2 is easier, but if you want to play both start with BG. It has a slower pace and you'll want to play with low level characters first and high level characters afterwards.
Be aware that you'll find quite some BG1 references in BG2, NPCs will claim to have traveled with you in BG1, some BG2 only players are annoyed by this, but most don't mind.
I add my vote to 'BG1 first':

The mystery to be solved in BG1 will be spoiled in BG2, immediately from the start: you'll rob yourself of the experience that can only be experienced once, of trying to figure out why it is assassins are after you in BG1. Don't play BG2 beforehand, don't read entire walkthroughs and avoid spoilers on fora. You only have that opportunitiy for wonder once, don't spoil it.

Higher level characters are harder to kill, but you'll get to know the magic system much more intimate if you familiarize yourself with it's spells one level at a time. To survive the first few levels in BG1, it will help you if you get to know what Thac0 (to hit armour class 0), what AC means (AC), and why you should strive to get those figures low, learning the value of the sleep spell, learning to run away and pepper the enemy with arrows. To defeat enemies in BG2, you'll have to get to know a lot more spells, what they do, what they counter.

Final argument: there's a lot of satifisfaction to be had in climbing in experience from someone who comes just out of the study hall, wet behind the ears, to a mighty warrior or mage (cleric or thief) who can take on enemies at the end of BG1, you could only give a wide berth at the beginning.
Post edited June 11, 2011 by DubConqueror
For gaming's sake, everything is more well done in BG2, and that game itself has incredibly more diversity & versatility; in part b/c of the improvements from the developers, and then in part b/c of starting out at a higher level. But BG1 has excellent charm on its own, holds its own in terms of diversity & versatility, and is the game I'm currently playing & having loads of fun in it. The games go hand in hand, I feel.

For storyline's sake, play BG1 before BG2, in order to maximize your pleasure in this aspect.
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DubConqueror: I add my vote to 'BG1 first':

The mystery to be solved in BG1 will be spoiled in BG2, immediately from the start: you'll rob yourself of the experience that can only be experienced once, of trying to figure out why it is assassins are after you in BG1. Don't play BG2 beforehand, don't read entire walkthroughs and avoid spoilers on fora. You only have that opportunitiy for wonder once, don't spoil it.

Higher level characters are harder to kill, but you'll get to know the magic system much more intimate if you familiarize yourself with it's spells one level at a time. To survive the first few levels in BG1, it will help you if you get to know what Thac0 (to hit armour class 0), what AC means (AC), and why you should strive to get those figures low, learning the value of the sleep spell, learning to run away and pepper the enemy with arrows. To defeat enemies in BG2, you'll have to get to know a lot more spells, what they do, what they counter.

Final argument: there's a lot of satifisfaction to be had in climbing in experience from someone who comes just out of the study hall, wet behind the ears, to a mighty warrior or mage (cleric or thief) who can take on enemies at the end of BG1, you could only give a wide berth at the beginning.
Looks like I'll be going in order then,

Thanks for all the replies guys :D
Thanks for marking my post as the solution.

One good thing about BG2 that can be implemented in BG 1 as well with a mod, is NPC interaction: The BG1NPCProject is fan-written, but the dialogues are just as interesting and in character as the Bioware dialogues the NPC's have in BG2.

http://www.gibberlings3.net/bg1npc/index.php , you have to convert your BG1 game to Tutu or BGTrilogy though (both run BG1 inside the much better modable BG2 engine, so you'll need to have both games to be able to make a Tutu or BGT install - for more info, there's many topics on Tutu and BGT).