From what I've read, not entirely free.
They're offering premium content to people who wish to purchase it. As well as VIP subscription status.
Quote:2. FREE? For real?
Yes, for real. DDO is free to play as long as you want without subscription andmost importantlywithout your credit card digits. Just log in and start battling your way to elite status without so much as reaching for your wallet. Along the way, youll even earn points equal to your level of success to spend in the DDO store. Its like were paying you to play!
3. Whats this DDO Store you speak of?
Funny you should ask. The DDO store is a vendor within DDO, where you can spend your hard-fought points or real, hard-earned dollars (if you wish) to enhance your gaming experience. While the best gear can still only be found by adventuring in-game, the store offers a bevy of convenience items, in addition to premium content modules, extra character slots, hirelings, potions, unique character customization, and much more than this page will allow us to list! Items in the DDO store are purchased with Turbine Points.
4. What are Turbine Points?
Turbine Points are the currency of the DDO store, and you can buy them with credit cards, PayPal, or at participating POSA retailers (coming soon). They are available in 500 1000, 2500, and 5000 point denominations. You can also earn Turbine Points for certain achievements in-game. Turbine Points never expire and can be used to pay for anything in the DDO Store.
5. What is a DDO VIP?
Sounds important, right? Well, it is. DDO VIPs are players who want unlimited access to all of the content DDO has to offer. This newly optional subscription program also allows its gamers to enjoy a number of other exclusive benefits, such as a monthly grant of Turbine Points, priority access to servers, the ability to play all classes and races, additional character slots, a shared bank slot, and much more. The cost of becoming a DDO VIP is only $14.99 per month.
10. If I dont have a DDO subscription, how much game content can I access?
Frankly, that all depends on what kind of gamer you are. Free content is widely available for low-level characters and becomes sparser as a characters level increases. However, additional premium modules such as standalone adventuresand other areas of the worldare available for players of all levels to purchase through the DDO store. Once the module has been added to your account, it will be permanently available to all your characters.
The thing I dislike is that content becomes sparser when you hit the higher levels, so it's pretty much saying, "Hey, if you want to keep playing, you have to buy some turbine points!"