The game has turned into a major cash grab. They change and ruin items, game play, and classes for the purpose of prying more money from you.
You can still enjoy (kinda) a free to play experience but you will soon find that to play any end game content you will inevitably have to spend cash.
They have now changed the item level for random dungeons meaning low level players are more restricted from earning astral diamonds. Also the neverwinter idiots like to encourage elitist behaviour..