Interview: 40k Personality – Thomas “Goatboy” Reidy

Today we’re joined by Thomas “Goatboy” Reidy, writer for Bell of Lost Souls, Warhammer 40K Internet personality, and painting service provider from the far distant realm of Austin TX.

• What would you consider to be your geek cred?  Meaning, what are the things that make you kinda geeky?

Been reading comics for years, playing 40k for awhile, played Magic, and have always been a sci-fi fantasy geek.  Heck I played a Amtguard for years too – ha!  So you could say I have always been kinda geeky.

• So if anyone is familiar with Bell of Lost Souls, Adepticon, and Warhammer 40K, then they likely recognize your name.  How did you get started in the miniature wargaming scene?

Originally I played because I was tired of slinging cards in Magic the Gathering back in 1998.  I played for a few years and then dropped out for awhile after I graduated from College.  I got back into the game after a divorce and have just gone on playing and getting better.  I really got into the painting side of it as I am a graphic artist on the side and like the artistic nature of the game.

• What was it about miniature wargaming and 40K specifically that appealed to you?

The models look cool and it just screams at the little 14 year old boy in me who likes robots, guns, and gun robots.  Really every aspect of the game just drips with cool ooze that screams to that little boy that loved Transformers, GI Joe and Ninja Turtles.

• Do you consider yourself more a hobbyist or Gamer in regards to tabletop wargaming?

I come from a competitive background.  I did play sports and was always a kid that wanted to win at times.  I wanted to have fun more, but winning could be fun too.  So really I fit in both sides of the hobby.  I like to paint, convert and build models but I also like them to kick a little ass now and again.

• So you’ve got a pretty serious goat fetish thing going on. How did your Goatboy Internet personality develop?

Lord the nickname came from when I worked at a comic book store (gasp another notch on my geek utility belt).  I had a goatee so another gamer just started calling me Goatboy.  I used it as my online art handle as well as my local nickname handle since then.  Hell I have had the name since 1998.  Yeah I know lame back story on it.  I guess I could have said I saved my family from a kingdom of rabid Goat People and when they say how bad ass I was granted me the abilities of a goat.  Leaving pellets everywhere that piss people off.

• You’ve been known to ruffle some feathers occasionally among the gaming community.  Why do you think that is?

It is probably because I write a lot.  When you see someone posting a lot and it riles some people it starts to become a thing to just give me crap.  It also has to deal with that there are a lot of people that just don’t like the competitive nature of the game.  It is also probably how I talk online.  It can be hard to get the emotion behind the words at times so I can come across as a dbag.  But if you meet me outside the walls of the Internet you will see I don’t stink to bad.

• What are some highlights in your gaming career?

I won the Championship last year at Adepticon.  I got second at the Alamo last year.  I did well at the Baltimore GT – 3rd best General.  The year before my win at Adepticon I got 3rd at the Invitational.  All in all I do alright in most events – winning more then losing most of the time.  It is a dice game and luck is something you need to have to do well.  So you can say I haven’t made mistakes and my dice were not hating me at the time.

• Do you enjoy the tournament scene for 40K?

I do a lot. It is why I keep making new lists and designing new armies.  I just like to play the game.  I wish the rules were better in places and some of the codex designs were better so we had an overall even level on armies.  But missions and terrain can change up a lot of match ups so I feel there are ways to help make things better.

• When you build your lists do you tend to lean toward power-gaming or theme?

A lot of the time I will lean towards a themed power build.  I want my lists to win so I look for themes I can use that will at least give a good list.  I hate those games where it is so one sided it is just not worth finishing the games.

• What advice can you offer tournament goers?

It is just a game.  When things go bad just think someone, somewhere else is just getting lucky.  Maybe they found that 20 dollars they need to eat for the day or that one girl/guy gave them the call to go out on a date.

• You offer a for hire painting service.  How did you make the transition from hobbyist to businessman?

Usually when I start a hobby that eats up my time I look for ways to at least help my wallet from getting eaten too much.  Thus the painting service.  It also came from the fact I paint faster then most people and can crank out decent stuff for a nice price.  A lot of players just like to play and having grey armies on the table top just doesn’t look as nice.  I like to do art too and I am a freelance graphic artist on top of the miniature painting and my day job.  I like to work obviously haha.

• What are some favorite pieces you’ve worked on?

The latest model I enjoyed was painting a Chaos Reaver Titan.  You can see a video of it on Bell of Lost souls now and I plan on writing up a review of it soon.  Beyond that I like my current Word Bearers/Grammar Wolves army as I think it looks good on the table top with clean conversions and an overall neat style that looks good on the table top.

• What makes your painting style unique?

I am a dirty painter.  That is the best way to explain it.  I like a more painterly style that emphasizes layers to help create minis that have a lot more going for it then a flat color with a highlight edge.  I come from a paint/art background and it shows in my work.  It might not be crisp and super clean but it just oozes personality through all its grim and gritty texture.

• What else do you do beyond 40K for fun?

I play some video games and draw.  And I hang out with my wife.  40k does grab all my likes in the art, design, and game department so I don’t have a lot of other room for things. I do want to start playing some basketball or other exercise because this Goatboy is kinda Chunky Goatman now.

• What do you do for a day job, if any?

I do fiber optic technical support for a local company here.  Beyond that I also do graphic design and illustration too and just keep myself busy with all sorts of things in the art world.

• Ok, last one. We always ask people we interview one question, if you had to take only 3 items into a dungeon, what would the be?

Fantasy – Vorpal Weapon, Ring of Protection, and Warrior to be my Tank
Real Life – Flame Thrower, Blue Laser, LED Light.
Nonsense – Ninja Friend, Bear, and Nunchucks.

As always we very much appreciate Thomas coming by to hang out and chat.  Feel free to check his articles out over at BoLS.  Elsewhere you can find him at:
Website - www.fullofmonkey.com/blog – miniature painting
Blog – goatboy40k.blogspot.com
Email – Goatboybols@gmail.com