Cristobal Arnaldo de Issasi Miniature Preview

/ scarygator

Last Updated on October 2, 2026

Intro

I have returned to sing the praises of the sculpting team at Firelock Games and to show off a new miniature. This time we have a commander that for some Spanish players might be an old favorite, Cristobal Arnaldo de Issasi. He has been in the game since the original rulebook. He has also been a staple of many “guerilla forces” lists that I have created over the years.

Issasi and the new upcoming Wave 2 Spanish Commander

Cristobal Arnaldo de Issasi Background

Isassi played a central role in opposition to the conquest of Jamaica. For the first roughly 5 years of English Jamaica, He led a semi-successful resistance campaign against the English. He used early guerrilla tactics aided by the Cimaroons on the island. This kept the English on the back foot early on in the campaign. The guerrillas hoped that the Spanish would eventually re-conquer the island. Ultimately after two failed attempts to land more reinforcements in the northern shore, and losing the support of their Cimaroon allies the Spanish resistance withdrew.

Notice the price decrease from his entry in The Rise of the Buccaneers: Jamaica

You can get a full account his exploits on Jamaica in the Anglo-Spanish War of 1655-1660: Volume 2 – War in Jamaica which is a very thorough account of the conflict on Jamaica and Issasi’s part in it.

Cristobal Arnaldo de Issasi Sculpt Details

The weapons we see on this mini are a cup hilt rapier and a off hand dagger with a standard cross guard hilt. A Miliquet lock pistol is stuffed behind in his belt. He wears a standard wide brim hat pinned or crudely stitched up on one side. His outer garment looks like a short sleeve jerkin to my eye. He wears it over a short jacket or doublet with frilled shirt sleeves peeking out around the wrists.

It looks like he’s wearing simple breeches that likely gather at the knee. He is sporting what looks to me like boot hose, worn with buckled closed lachet shoes. Boot hose was used primarily as a way to protect your good stockings or hose from the wear of wearing riding boots. They would stick up and fold over the top of the boot. Wearing them without boots as a fashion statement was not uncommon in the mid 17th century. You can see an example in the image below.

Painting Cristobal Arnaldo de Issasi

I used Monument Hobbies paints for this project with a mix of Citadel shades and Vallejo metallics.  

He paints up pretty easily as he doesn’t have any real challenge areas to reach. The mini has lots of great detail and an interesting visual design.

Joseph’s Painted Issasi

The New Cristobal Arnaldo de Issasi Faction

A new personal faction will come with Issasi that represents his fighting force resisting English occupation of Jamaica. This faction is very ambush tactics heavy, such as being able to “Lay in Wait” half of the force, which is what you’d expect for a guy like Issasi. 

At the cost of not taking size two ships and keeping Issasi in a Spanish unit, trained and veteran units in this force gain Evade. Evade is a great rule to pair with lay in wait. It allows you to handle counter charges when you may be a little more vulnerable than normal. 

Issasi himself can use 1 Command Point to give two units within his Command Range a Move action! The moves can’t be a Charge but they can be used to Move out of combat which is very powerful.

I’ve yet to play this faction but I am very excited to try it out.

Final Thoughts

The Rise of the Buccaneers book is focusing on the early years of English Jamaica. So making Isassi a focal point and elevating him to be a Legendary Commander was a clear choice.

Isassi was already one of my favorite commanders and I think the new sculpt and factions will keep him appearing in my games long in the future.

L to R: Captain Yellows, Admiral Myngs, Roc Brasiliano, Juan de Serras, Bartolemeu Portugues and Cristobal Arnaldo de Issasi

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