<img src="[[*HeroImage:isempty:then='[[*blogImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]':else='[[*HeroImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]']] [[*]]" alt="[[*pagetitle]]" class="img-responsive"/>
<img src="[[!*HeroImage:isempty:then='[[*blogImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]':else='[[*HeroImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]']] [[*]]" alt="[[*pagetitle]]" class="img-responsive"/>
Have you tried calling your TV uncached with ! before the name.
<img src="[[!*HeroImage:isempty:then='[[*blogImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]':else='[[*HeroImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]']] [[*]]" alt="[[*pagetitle]]" class="img-responsive">
<img src="[[*HeroImage:default=`[[*blogImage]]`:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]" alt="[[*pagetitle]]" class="img-responsive"/>
<img src="[[*HeroImage:isempty:then=`[[*blogImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]`:else=`[[*HeroImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]`]] [[*]]" alt="[[*pagetitle]]" class="img-responsive"/>
Should it be back ticks where you have single quotes?
<img src="[[*HeroImage:isempty:then=`[[*blogImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]`:else=`[[*HeroImage:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]`]] [[*]]" alt="[[*pagetitle]]" class="img-responsive">
Note the difference between ' and ` quotes - MODX needs the latter.
What I'd recommend is this:
<img src="[[*HeroImage:default=`[[*blogImage]]`:phpthumbof=`w=1200&h=800`]]" alt="[[*pagetitle]]" class="img-responsive">
Thanks a million this works, in some strange illogical hard to fathom way