Sep10trion, Tolkien goblinoids, which were the base for D&Ds and later WH which were the base for Warcraft ones, were based on post industrial revolution fears, that is why it is not that uncommon to see them as tech-savvy on roleplaying games and videogames way before and after WoW and WH. If you go deeper, like for example into D&D, they are pretty much like most humaoid races and have organization and civilizations, sometimes not even chaotic evil like they were with Tolkien but more varied.
Warhammer goblins are either cannon fodders or food for the bigger Greenskins i.e. most Orcs. The same for their Warhammer 40K counterpart the Gretchins. Even worse because they get strapped with bombs and missiles and sent to explode themselves to the enemies.
Warhammmer goblins were never cannon fodder or food for the bigger greenskins, but equally trample with their numbers and are trampled by other greenskins and their Warlords have even conquered empires by themselves sometimes. Skavens are a lot similar to them in that regard, as evil and coward fuckers. They are simplified versions of D&D or Tolkien ones, in some parts.
Warhammer 40k gretchins are what you described for goblins, but not at all times and they haven't managed for themselves more than small amounts of power sometimes. Also, they do not get strapped with anything but they do it by themselves, same as with goblins (flying goblin's catapults), because they value the fun of it more than their lives. Only time they are forced in battle is for landmine fields clearance, and sometimes they are eager to (brainwashed like kids).