I feel like a healer's role is the most simple, yet the most depended on in raids and parties. Firstly, healers do not have a rotation. This already makes their role a little easier to grasp, they just need to look at the situation, look at their resources, and make the most effective judgement to keep the party alive. Of course, there are don'ts in being a healer, such as White Mage, please do not keep spamming Cure III unless the target really desperately needs it. @_@ It's really not necessary and it just ends up being an MP sink. I concur with Eva and Freelance, the healer is supposed to adapt and be aware of the situation, unlike tanks and DPS who are more focused on being aware on their positioning and debuffs and DoTs.Â
Secondly, if anyone ever expects you to DPS as a healer, punch them in the face. Or, do /slap one we get that. Because that is BY far the DUMBEST thing any healer can do. DPS. Unless there is a period of low/calm damage (example would be in Sunken Temple of Qarn, second boss. After you break his soulstone, he can't deal damage. That's when a healer can DPS), then the healer shouldn't be DPSing. That'll just lead to an MP sink, you won't be able to heal, and then a wipe. Not a smart move.
EDIT: Okay, I forgot to include Holy. Holy is very good for cleaning out adds, but the primary focus should still be healing, then wait for a calm period of damage to DPS/Holy.
Secondly, if anyone ever expects you to DPS as a healer, punch them in the face. Or, do /slap one we get that. Because that is BY far the DUMBEST thing any healer can do. DPS. Unless there is a period of low/calm damage (example would be in Sunken Temple of Qarn, second boss. After you break his soulstone, he can't deal damage. That's when a healer can DPS), then the healer shouldn't be DPSing. That'll just lead to an MP sink, you won't be able to heal, and then a wipe. Not a smart move.
EDIT: Okay, I forgot to include Holy. Holy is very good for cleaning out adds, but the primary focus should still be healing, then wait for a calm period of damage to DPS/Holy.
"Critical fails; for when the GM sobs at night and the players get free checks."