Anybody who has played the first AC and is now playing the second....is there any real need to play the first or would you say you can just skip it and go straight to the second?

I have not played the second but I would say skip the first. AC2 improves on many things that made the first very repetitive and I dont think you need to play the first to follow the story in the second.

" I have not played the second but I would say skip the first. AC2 improves on many things that made the first very repetitive and I dont think you need to play the first to follow the story in the second. "

I'm not sure if it would matter but you could just read the wiki.

Ryan's Assassin's Creed 2 review, tell you all you need to know about AC1 plot
 
i don't want to spoil AC1 but the plot is pretty basic.....

You, NEED to play the first if you want any real understanding of the plot or story. If you're in it just for the gameplay then sure you don't need to, but I play the Assassin's Creed games for their story just as much as their gameplay (like many) and in that case you really do need to play the first.

" @RsistncE: Wasn't the story in the first pretty weak? At least that's what I got from what I played, I never completed it but I've seen the ending. "

" @Ineedaname said:

" @RsistncE: Wasn't the story in the first pretty weak? At least that's what I got from what I played, I never completed it but I've seen the ending. "

i thought the story was pretty fine, obviously all the people decrypting the writing made it alot stronger so i guess it depends if you paid attention to what people found out from that, im going to guess since you finished the game you probably didnt see many of the writings im talking about though so... "

" @RsistncE: Wasn't the story in the first pretty weak? At least that's what I got from what I played, I never completed it but I've seen the ending. "

I'm in the same position as you too haha... haven't played the first and was worried I'd miss out when i get the second.

I was wondering this too. I didn't get the first one mainly because I wasn't sure if I'd like an open world game that still had stealth-focused gameplay, and because of all the glitches. I really don't want to go back now after two years and play the first one, and I'm still not sure the gameplay is for me, so if the story is also indecipherable, I'm definitely gonna pass.

For the immediate story (ezio) you will be fine i think judging from what ive played so far. 
 
For the overall story tho  i would reccomend playing the first. On the chance it sucks you in you could always go back and play the first, but then maybe you cant since it will be frustrating and primitive in comparison.
 
Gameplay wise it holds your hand pretty tightly, plenty of tutorial, so i wouldnt worry about that.