Of course you would be more than welcome Tom.
You don't need to do much in advance. You need to make sure your machine can run roll20 and google hangouts but that is unlikely to be an issue. Roll20 doesn't require any sort of download but you will have to register.
Once the table link goes out you need to log into the table. I will set you a token to represent your character if you send me a picture with your character information or I can create one for you.
It helps to set up a couple of macros for some common rolls but that is fairly easy. Once you are in the table go to the settings option at the top right, it looks like a cog wheel.
You will see an Add button. Hit it and a macro box will come up. Give it a name and then put your macro into the text box called actions. Some common simple macros include:
1. [[1d20+x.x&{tracker}]]
This is a basic initiative macros. Your init modifier replaces the x.x so if you are say +4 you would put 4.4 there. Using the decimal helps break ties. When you need to roll initiative simply select your token, hit the macro and you will be automatically added to the initiative tracker.
2. Attack [[1d20+x+?{modifiers}]] Dmg [[1d8+y+?{extra dmg}]]
This is a very basic attack macro. The x in attack is replaced by your attack, similarly the y is your static damage bonus. When you hit the macro you will be prompted to add a modifier for the attack value and the damage. These let you do things like charge, cover or power attack on the fly.
3. Anything else: I do something! [[1d20+x]]
This covers pretty much everything else from skill checks to saves.
A common save macro might look like this:
[[1d20+x]] Fortitude
[[1d20+y]] Reflex
[[1d20+z]] Will
A common skill macro might look like this:
[[1d20+x]] Diplomacy
You can add little flourishes to add some flavour text as well if you like. Something like:
/em peers around cautiously looking for danger
[[1d20+x]] Perception
You can get very complicated with all sorts of templates and situational modifiers but it isn't really necessary. Having simple macros for your common rolls does speed things up significantly.
Once you are done hit save. You can set it to appear when you select your token if you pick "Show as Token Action" on the macro creation tab. Otherwise once you have saved it you will see it appear on the cog wheel settings tab. There is a box there to set it to appear on the macro bar which runs along the bottom of the screen.
