well right now i dont wanna buy both so i wanna know if you can play 2 without playing 1(plotwise) and if so is 2 better than 1?

Yeah, you can. There are references to the first one, but it's no big deal if you haven't played the first.

As far as which is better: depends on which rule set you like the most. 1 uses the AD&D rules, while 2 uses the D&D 3.0 rules. Both games are good and pretty much equal to each other IMO.

In my opinion, the original is the better game. IWD2 is generally praised for its implementation of the 3rd edition D&D rules and other improvements and changes to the Infinity Engine, which I completely agree with -- the switch to 3E rules, especially, was great and gave players a ton of flexibility and the game a fresh, more modern feel overall -- but the game itself is not as polished, coherent and well-paced as its predecessor.

Josh Sawyer, IWD2's Lead Designer, has actually been very open and honest about the project and what he thinks was the cause of its flaws (the fact that they were initially given a very short development timeline). Here's an interesting quote from a thread on the Obsidian Entertainment forum: Source

I loved both these Games.

I'm fairly certain you can play 2 without having played 1. It has been a really long time since I've played them, though.

I would suggest that you start with 1 and hope for a Sale on 2...I enjoyed both parts a lot and with the Expansions included they both offer a ton of playtime.

I never finished the first one, but I'm having more fun with #2.

The first one became ludicrous how many battles there were, and having to travel really far back just to rest somewhere safe. It became more of a test of patience than fun. IWD2 so far has lots of battles to be sure, but it just seems to be better paced and includes areas to rest more frequently. Also, the later rules and character development are just more interesting IMO.

Years after the fact, I'd have to say 1.

I had more fun with 2, it starts to build up slowly with goblins and stuff. Fun to kill and reasonable. The graphics were a little better yet (the pinnacle of infinity engine) and I prefer 3.x rules to 2.x.

In 1, I all the time had a feeling the opponents were unfairly difficult, going against many yeti in the first level or something like that, and ramping up veery fast. But somehow it remained doable. More importantly, I still remember a bunch of locations and battles from 1, almost nothing from 2.

ID2. A bit easier to get into, more down to earth opponents early on, more humor.
ID1. Epic locations, opponents and quests. More of that "yes goddamn! I did it!"

I really like two. The battles are huge without being ridiculous. And I always loved the 3rd ed rule set. I think the story from both games was about on par but the combat in two is alot better.

I actually enjoy 2nd edition rules better. I like specialized characters and I find that 3 and 3.5 bring into the game the swiss army effect where you can make characters that are great at several different things. I just don't care for that personally. At any rate I've played both and enjoyed both but I thought that IWD1 had the better story, better vibe, and overall better flow to it. But you can both games for cheap so get both and play both.