How do you properly use Hypaspistai

[James the Red]

When role playing, im a bit uncertain on how to use Hypaspistai, Peltastai Makedonikoi, and the Ptolemaic equivalent the Basilikon Agema.

Should I only have them with my king or are they allowed to be apart of an army that doesn't have my king in it?

Whats the proper way to use these units when roleplaying?

[Casual Tactician]

I'm no expert here, but the unit description of the Hypaspistai gives a good impression how to use them.

Hail, Basileu! Before you stand your Hypaspistai: the elite of the elite and your personal guard. They are armed and armored in the finest equipment of the traditional hoplite: aspis, greaves, cuirass, helmet, spear, and sword. They are the best and richest of your men; far too worthy to risk in unwise actions. And yet they are without a doubt capable of multiplying the power of your army. Forming the right wing of the battle line or leading the assault on fortifications their heavy armor and weapons allow them to stand against even the hardiest of opponents and triumph with ease. They should be deployed where the fighting will be at its absolute thickest or nearby to fight with and to protect you. (...)

Historically, the Hypaspistai (shield-bearers) first appear with Alexandros at the beginning of his reign as his elite troops and bodyguard. He used them extensively throughout his anabasis for special missions, assault of fortifications, and in support of light troops in rough terrain; however, details of the unit seem to disappear by the time Alexandros reaches India and remain as such until appearing in various sources for the three remaining Diadochoi kingdoms in different forms and perhaps briefly in Epeiros with Pyrrhos. Such examples of their deployment count them as possibly numbering a fifth of the 10,000 Arygraspides corps of the Seleukid kings or as the military police and closest guard of the Makedonian kings. Yet, despite their prowess, the Hypaspistai were either forced to evolve past the antiquated hoplite model as in the east or vanish with the fall of their kingdom as in the west.

I guess it's save to say you should not be using too many of them if roleplaying your campaign. Perhaps one in the army of your faction leader and another unit in one of your other campaigning/sieging armies lead by an experienced general or the faction heir.
For the Peltastai Makedonikoi I'd say use them in the same fashion but have up to two units in a large army.

[smoesville]

In an empire like the Seleukids at its height i would have 4-5 of them in the empire, probably stationed with the king/heir and 1 for each of the campaign armies (there's usually between 2-3). The same with units like the Indohellenikoi Eugeneis Hoplitai and the Baktrion Agema. Though in that case of the nobles i might have 2 or so in an army as well as the Baktrion Agema but in that case Baktria can't really afford more than one army and usually the king leads from the front.

[Ferdiad]

When role playing, im a bit uncertain on how to use Hypaspistai, Peltastai Makedonikoi, and the Ptolemaic equivalent the Basilikon Agema.

Should I only have them with my king or are they allowed to be apart of an army that doesn't have my king in it?

Whats the proper way to use these units when roleplaying?

Flanks of the Phalanxes and they do the hard work in sieges.

[Conqistador]

Assault walls and flanking/enveloping maneuvers

[Manuel I Komnenos]

So, you are looking for historical accuracy, rather than what's better for the game's strategy? If that's the case:
The Hypaspists of the Macedonian Kingdom, the equivalent of whom in the Seleucid Kingdom are the Argyraspids were elite professional troops, stationed in the Kingdom's capital and always in arms and ready for action. On the other hand, the pezhetairoi of the Macedonian Kingdom and the 'katoikoi' phalangites of the Seleucid Kingdom were citizens or farmers.

The real job of a Seleucid phalangite was to attend the farming fields that were given to him by the King, when he settled in Syria or Asia Minor, after leaving Macedonia or Greece proper. In times of need, they had to answer the King's call and come to the nearest military camp. Historian Bar-Kochva who is an expert in the Seleucid Army mentions that the Argyraspidae numbered 10,000 and were the most capable sons of the phalangites/farmers. While their father was still serving they would be chosen by the King's officials and would be sent to Antioch, the Seleucid capital, where they would learn the Kingdom's institutions and would spend years close to the King, eventually growing loyal and willing to die to the last man for him. When their service was over, they'd return and inherit the farm of their father who would be retiring from the army by that time.

As for the Macedonian Hypaspists, they were most probably created by Phillip and were not recruited in a regional level such as the pezhetairoi but amongst the best men the Kingdom had to offer. They were always prepared to fight (professionals) and received wage. They accompanied Alexander and most usually fought in the first line, being the connection between the phalanx's right and the cavalry's left. Their number numbered 3,000 and they were divided into 3 chiliarchies (units of the 1,000 thousand). The 1st chiliarchy was called Agema and they were the most elite. They would guard the King's tent or they would fight alongside him when he dismounted his horse. They were completely loyal to the King, which is shown by the fact that Alexander entrusted them with capturing the ringleaders of the Opis mutiny. During the Indian campaign or even earlier, Alexander painted their shields in silver and they gained the name 'Argyraspidae' since then which means (Silver-shields).

When Alexander died, their duty was to guard the Royal Treasure. During the Wars of the Diadochi, Eumenes, the Greek satrap of Cappadocia, a great general and loyal to Alexander's successors, recruited them. At that time (+-316 BC) most of them were 70-80 years old (!), yet they were the most fearsome and respected men in the whole Macedonian Army. In the battle of Paraitacene, they destroyed Antigonos Monofthalmos right flank without even losing one man. Then they made a 90 degrees right turn and flanked Antigonos' left without breaking their formation and while holding long sarissas. In the Battle of Gabiene, they fought well but Antigonos captured their baggage wagons which held all the riches they had amassed during their campaigns as well as their wives and sons. After this turnout of events, they handed Eumenes to Antigonos, they got their baggage train back and were enlisted in Antigonos' Army. Antigonos didn't trust them, therefore he sent most of them to the Upper Satrapies with order to send them in dangerous missions in 3s, until they all perished. Seleucos, who later created the Seleucid Kingdom, reconstituted the unit which I described how it work in the Seleucid dominion.

The Macedonian Kingdom also continued to deploy the unit which continued to have its original name 'Hypaspistai'. The Hypaspistai fought bravely in the battle of Pydna and perished to the last man.