Eh....

So when a vampire goes to "sleep" during the daytime....*yes, we're talking about legends and such, not HLVs* does it just go to sleep and still retain a level of consciousness? Or ... does it go into some sort of comatose zone, where it's unable to do anything at all until it "awakens" at dusk, twilight, whatever.

I'd say suspended animation, yes. Dracula slept with his eyes open. They don't sleep so much for energy renewal, more just to be in a dark place for a while until it's safe to go out hunting again.

Traditional legends say they become paralyzed during the day time, and if dug up their eyes will still move suggesting the are aware but un-able to move.
other types never sleep instead becoming "in-active" basically vanishing to reappear the next night,

and still some never sleep or vanish instead hideing from the light in caves and underground.

I would say that they might not sleep but they need to hide from the sun. Although they are able to move around in the dark aslong as there is no sunlight to harm them.

Hm...what about vampire cat-naps? :rolleyes:
jk

I dont think they technically sleep, but it is more of a nap...what else are you going to do in a coffin?

Either that, or I go with Rhuen's answer.

I agree,i dont think they sleep like we do to recouperate they dont need to.

as far as legends are concerned, I would come to beleive that vampires would have to find a way to remain somewhat concious even in their sleep . Remaining incoherent would be a deathly error in their lives, and I would imagine that most would try to find ways to compensate for it. And I would be sure, many could not.
In a sense it is not really sleep, to regain energy(for their energy comes from their prey). Just a way to stay safe. Rest, I would beleive a necessity either way. If a human can remain "awake" in their "sleep" than I would be sure vampires would apply that very same skill in their lives.

with of course, the always loyal assets, such as their enhanced sence of smell, would certainly be helpful when it comes to that one drawback.

And I suppose in relation to modern times - if they *do* need to sleep in that way - wouldn't they be more scared of getting carted away to a morgue than being steaked through the heart? Surely they'd appear dead?

I think that they too would prolly need at least a lil while to revive even if it was only an hour or so because we have food to give us energy but we still need to sleep to give our brain a rest and i know that obviously vampires wouldnt work on the same principles as us but i would still like they needed a lil rest. I also think that they would be aware more so than we are when sleeping because of their hightened senses.

"Contrary to popular belief, the vampire, like any other night creature, can move about by day, but it is not his natural time and his powers are weak"-Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Again, when it comes to the issue of how the vampire behaves during the day, it depends on who is writing the story.

When it comes to folklore, the issue of how a vampire behaved during the day wasn't ever really touched on, but the vampire would prey on its victims at night since night time is the time where people sleep and when people sleep, they are at their most vulnerable.

In my own vampire fiction, vampires are able to move about by day, but their powers are weakened. Some vampires are so weakened by daylight that the brightness blinds them and it even renders them immobile, but it doesn't burn them.

I was speaking as if coffins weren't essential.
However if they were, I would imagine that they wouldnt have to worry all that much for people then...would not check coffins. But think of it these days. Security will check everything. And its not so much as getting steaked rather than opening the coffin at the wrong place & the wrong time.

We are still talking about the legend versions?

if we are talking about the traditional vampire, I couldn't see it fitting it with humans, of course in this day and age in the right place maybe they would just seen as haveing a deformaty, and any victims "draining blood from lips and finger tips" might just be seen as sick as they slowely die and grow pale over time before dieing" but they lack stealth or any of the "cooler" powers so they might just get caught. unless they drain the homeless. but a witness might be able to narrow down the list of suspects when the but ugly deformed man who only goes out at night who lives down the street.

I think i know that guy..LOL

From what I have read there is nothing that says they have to run from sunlight. Seems more like they don't like it. But, would you? In the traditional sense thier bodys wouldn't work right so your eyes wouldn't either. My eyes are really light sensitive. I probably wouln't be able to see. I don't think they "sleep" just wait and plan away from prying eyes. If I'm wrong I say that they maintain some sort of conciousness.