(ACTIVE) [FREE] DDO + Lord of the Rings Online - All Adventure Packs

Update, October 16, 2021
DDO code is reactivated, use DDOQUESTS2021 in-game for access to the free quests available in Dungeons & Dragons online.

Update, September 23 2021

New code for acquiring all current LOTRO quest packs: LOTROQUESTS2021 (1/Account, active through November 30th, 2021)
Note that this contains two additional packs over the previous promotion's code. More information on the full promotion available at https://www.lotro.com/en/getready

Original June 2020 thread follows:

❋ DDO Promotion Details ❋

To start, players can continue to enjoy all of our quests, raids, and expansion content for free through August 31st, 2020. We would also like to provide a way for you to move forward with your gaming when our event eventually comes to an end, so in the coming days we will be providing a Coupon Code that will let you acquire all currently-available adventure packs permanently on your account(s)! However, you will need to act quickly, as this Coupon Code is available to redeem through August 31st, 2020.

The Coupon Code is: DDOfreequests (1/Account, available to redeem through August 31st, 2020)
https://ddo.com/en/news/free-questing-coupon-and-vip-update-%E2%80%93-thank-you-standing-stone-games

Edit: You can also activate HAPPY14 to acquire an additional exclusive game item. [>>]

Additionally, two of the game's expansions [I recall paying $50 or so for each of them] are now available for $1 in game points (an amount which is easily farmable in-game, especially for new accounts [which get bonus points per game server played, which are then usable cross-server] ):

Additionally, we will be conducting a sale on two of our expansions in the DDO Store! When the sale is active, players will be able to pick up the quests included in Menace of the Underdark and The Shadowfell Conspiracy for 99 DDO Points.

As there doesn't appear to be a way of activating codes out-of-game, to claim the code one will need to install the game, and then pull up the in-game store (accessible either via "Buy Account Upgrades" in the character selection screen or by clicking the red Dungeons & Dragons icon in the lower left of the screen once loaded into the game with a character). Note that coupon codes are case-sensitive.

Users in this thread are indicating that the current install size of the game appears to come out to 13.4GB.

Fair warning, the patching process can take a fair bit of time [ie, several hours] to complete. Reddit comments suggest that this is primarily an issue with the Steam version's base install never having been updated- thus, those looking for a quicker install may want to utilize the non-Steam installer instead (you'll end up playing through the same launcher, so there's not any real difference between playing DDO as an add-to-Steam-library game or as a native Steam title).

Steam Page
Non-Steam Installer

❋ LOTRO Promotion Details ❋

LOTRO / Lord of the Rings Online is also having a similar promotion:
https://www.lotro.com/en/friendsforever
Code : LOTROFREEQUESTS
Steam / Non-Steam
+ LOTRO Steamgifts Discussion / Grouping thread

❋ DDO Newcomer Tips ❋

Once installed, you can enable the 64-bit client within the launcher, by clicking the ▽ in the top right and going to "Options...". It's disabled by default due to compatability concerns (older systems aside, it doesn't work properly with certain Nvidia cards), so you'll want to disable it if you're getting any problems, but it can noticably improve gameplay and loading times for those it works for.

In-game, I'd recommend going into the game options and turning off the chat filter in the Gameplay, unless you're inclined to favor having such enabled. Also in the Gameplay submenu, you can disable the "items based on character class" seting. This generally yields better drops, especially if you're not playing to archetype with your class, but it can be worth leaving on if you're looking for something class-associated, such as wands for a wizard or pet collars for a pet class.

Within the UI Settings submenu, you can disable hints (when desired) as well as disable prioritzation of enemies over interactables in combat [this is generally desirable, as disabling it doesn't automatically prioritize non-combatants, it simply no longer fights you on selecting non-combatants, which can make it easier to complete certain quest objectives].

For graphics settings and other menu elements, I'd recommend hovering over any given element, as the game does generally provide details via hovertext. If you're having performance issues, I'd recommend starting by minimizing shadow-related settings, followed by reflection and bloom settings. For non-English-native-speakers, note that the "Frill" setting handles elements such as grass and other minor graphical embellishments.

Chat box tabs can be dragged out, and then reorganized by dragging them into the input box of any other chat box. I'd recommend reorganizing into the order of Party > Guild > General > Combat, as by my experience that works best. You'll also have a much, much more appreciable experience if you disable loot information from the Party tab (via rightclicking on the tab).

Hotbars can be locked/unlocked via the key combination of CTRL and the + key. I personally use the rotate symbol to make hireling/pet bars vertical and place them to the far right, where they're out of the way of personal hotbars, so that may be a method which you may also wish to try.

Recommended character planner | Alternative 1 | Alternative 2
Note that none of these are entirely up to date with fine details, so it's still best to look to the DDOWiki first, and then just use the planners for organizing your data. All the more so as the wiki lists bugged elements which the planners may not.
+ DDO Steamgifts Discussion / Grouping thread