Welcome back. Hope u like Live server.
In fact u dont need create a New character. If I have one 2004 healer and love her i keep playing this one.
U can do all quests of a New one can do.
The thing of a New character is because NC give u for free 1 rune called Vitality Rune. This Rune on ur inventory dont let ur Vitality down for 7 days. This is the point to create a New character. If u boosts with XP rune u can Go to lv 110 (maybe) fast, depends of ur gear and class ofc.
Another opinion of Mine. If u like the playstyle of live server keep playing, we have New skills, system changes like no more subclasses, but dualclass and much more. Personaly i like the playstyle and skills of healer of live server, its beautifull skills. In fact healer are not necessary to do some instances anymore, but is super good have one in the party. Healer aways put down stress of free to play party. Obviously is Just my opinion.
I cant lie here: nowdays server of L2 is much more TO MUCH more pay to Win. If u love pvp u Will be oneshoted xD. If u love pve i think ull like a Lot of "New" l2.
October 19 we Will have New patch.
About PVE. If ur plan is to realy play Healer. I suggest u to play trio. Maybe u dont know but in Live server we can open 3 clients. Its good to play maybe Healer + iss Enchanter (the buffer) and one DD. DD play what u like ofc. But I can say some classes to play as free 2 play. If u Go to pay to Win its another history.
"Good DD" to play free role to level UP ur Healer:
Tyrr Maestro, Tyrr Titan - Tyrr Warriors is a solid class nowdays. Good damage, good survivel.
I dont recomend Tyrr Dreadnought playing as trio to level UP Healer. Why? Because farming AOE with pole, some mobs stop agression dreadnought and Go to hit ur Healer. Maybe u die and loose ur afk time Farm. BUT If u have a little gear to survive as Healer, maybe dreadnought is the best. Hes a AOE train Farm.
Feoh Wizard storm Screamer (Wind) or archmage (firme) - SS have aoe stun + good damage with critical. Archmage have + M.atak and burn (dot damage). Personaly i like stun from SS.
As free 2 play i dont like to play archer. Archer is awesome If u pay to Win.
Dagger in my opinion ia a Fun class, i like. Not the best damage as free to play, but Fun for me.
Sumoner and Sayhaa Seer (no good damage nowdays). Its Sad because i like these 2 xD.
Eviscerator (ertheia Race) this class is super easy to play, have good damage even f2p but evis is a single target hit, her damage came from Basic atk. Obviously slow ur Race to UP, but with healer + iss u never die
Remember my little "personal tutorial" to level UP ur Healer is a free to play based ok. As i Said pay to Win is another story.
Hope I Help u a little. Sorry my nada english (isnt my Native language and i dont study english). Welcome back and most important thing... Get Fun!