DDO is a great game with detailed character creation and awesome combat mechanics. You can do a lot for free, which is spelled out well in the ddowiki article[ddowiki.com].

If you are new to the game, be sure try all the servers until you find one with a lot of activity during your play time. At least one server has a player character acting as a greeter in the starter area. If you like to hammer things out for yourself, you can do that. If you like socialization, grouping, and getting help in game, you can do that, too. There are a lot of helpful players, and when you find and join an active guild, you will have constant comrades. :)

*Don't mind my Steam playing time. I have been playing DDO long before I joined Steam. ;)

Edit:

This is a great game, and it has been one for years. If you are used to playing other MMO's, you would do well to forget them when you play DDO. Approach the game with a fresh perspective, and bring along some friends. You will not be sorry. :)

Edit November 2018:

This game is still going strong, and the devs are still making new content. If you are waiting for a big sale before getting into it, now is the time. You can play the main game for free, but the price of adventure packs and expansions will be seriously discounted. Come get some! :)

Edit 28 November 2019:

The Hardcore League event has ended, and many of us had a blast. The rest are happy to have their players back on the home servers. XD

New content is still being produced, and the latest update (Keep on the Borderlands) is a blast. We have horses, now. Love'em or hate'em, they are objectively a QoL boost for those who wanted a buff to movement speed.

Black Friday sales are just the beginning of steep discounts on points and expacks. If you have never tried DDO, come play; if you have, come back and check out the new stuff. :)

Edit 14 June 2020:

All adventure pack quests currently available are permanently FREE with coupon code DDOFREEQUESTS when redeemed by 31 August 2020. This does not include expansion quests, but they have some on sale for really cheap.

Edit 25 November 2020:

The new Feywild expansion is out, and it is a lot of fun. Fourteen years old and still updated with new content. This is truly a labor of love.

Edit 25 November 2021:

Dungeons & Dragons Online is still a fun game to play, and the devs are still making new content and making adjustments for quality and game balance. They have also issued a new game code, DDOQUESTS2021, that will grant any account all the current adventure packs (NOT expansions). The code is good through 31 December 2021.

This is still my vote for Labor of Love. :)

Edit for Spring 2023:

DUNGEONCRAWL store code good until May 2023. Now expired.
Just like the two previous codes, it provided full access to all but the newest adventure packs for free. All but the latest expacks' content were seriously discounted (like only 95 store points each expack).
Still great fun to play. :D

Edit for 21 November 2023:

This game still puts out new content, and it is still worth playing. It beats WoW hands down, imo. BLACK FRIDAY AND HOLIDAY SALES ARE COMING. We can expect steep discounts, and maybe another free content store code. Who knows?

Edit for 27 November 2024:

Still a fun game. Good character customization, and a great combat system. Oh, yeah, and it's FREE.