What is the appeal of vampires?

As the title says, what is so appealing about vampires? It is a curse for a reason so why do people like them so much? In almost all cases of vampires, you are locked to one food, can't step outside in the sun (More than half the day), and because you are immortal you can never die peacefully. The only real upside to being a vampire is the immortality and strength but in most of the fiction that vampires are in, there are MANY other ways to gain immortality or power with little to no cost. I don't want to be a downer or ruin anyone's parade but I can't see a reason for any appeal or why so many authors write about them.

True! Replace all vampires with witches

They're more well known than the better options. They're much better than the worse options.

I definitely wouldn't ask to be a vampire if other options were available, but it's infinitely better than being human, and in most lores, easy. That's often a selling point. Why spend 80 years studying magic when you can get bit by a goth girl?

Santaisblue said:

As the title says, what is so appealing about vampires? It is a curse for a reason so why do people like them so much? In almost all cases of vampires, you are locked to one food, can't step outside in the sun (More than half the day), and because you are immortal you can never die peacefully. The only real upside to being a vampire is the immortality and strength but in most of the fiction that vampires are in, there are MANY other ways to gain immortality or power with little to no cost. I don't want to be a downer or ruin anyone's parade but I can't see a reason for any appeal or why so many authors write about them.

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Yeah, being a witch is a trillion times better. But we can't all be the best?‍
Besides, sexy goth girls in your neighbourhood are a good plus. We witches don't have sexy, or goth... well, considering after becoming a witch you [redacted], you can say girls too...

Santaisblue said:

As the title says, what is so appealing about vampires? It is a curse for a reason so why do people like them so much? In almost all cases of vampires, you are locked to one food, can't step outside in the sun (More than half the day), and because you are immortal you can never die peacefully. The only real upside to being a vampire is the immortality and strength but in most of the fiction that vampires are in, there are MANY other ways to gain immortality or power with little to no cost. I don't want to be a downer or ruin anyone's parade but I can't see a reason for any appeal or why so many authors write about them.

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First, while locked to one food, each blood could be said to have a different taste. Though it will depend on depiction, there are often times when vampires can freely eat other foods, they just don’t gain sustenance. Additionally, the act of blood sucking is often portrayed as extremely pleasurable.

Secondly, the burning in the sun part isn’t that problematic. If we’re talking about a modern era, sunscreen exists. You’d need a very high rated one, but it would blood sunlight everywhere except the eyes. Additionally, in fantasy settings, magic can sometimes be used to circumvent this. Also, not a vampires burn in the sun. Some depictions don’t burn at all, some are just weakened.

As for the immortality part, let me correct you. It is ageless not immortal; immortality implies the inability to die. Vampires can die. As for the violent part, that is true. However, it is not guaranteed. You could find a way to peacefully commit suicide. You have all the time in the world—literally.

Anyways, as for the other methods of achieving these the main other methods I can think of are: get a cheat skill, become a lich, become a demon, train a lot, entering s contract with a god-like entity, or similar avenues. Also, a cheat skill can cover any sun weakness.

In conclusion, your argument holds no water. If you don’t like vampires, that’s fine. I won’t force you. I love vampires, thus I have debunked your argument as to why they suck. I’m not after your opinion; believe what you want.

I'm not sure either, but I am currently creating a vampire character. What I'm doing though is researching the real medical condition that started the idea/myth of vampires. That's going to be heavily the basis of my vampire character and I think it's cool to do :)

Because what people want to really be is not a cursed vampire, but an immortal blood-sucking, baby-devouring witch! Which is basically superior because it has none of the weaknesses with all the strengths. They're just in denial of the truth smh

Well different versions of vampires have different appeals in different contexts. The fact that the legends of vampire-like creatures go back like a thousand year and still persist in popularity to this day is a pretty strong case that they have widespread appeal to humans on some level.

As for why they're so popular in modern times well usually they are portrayed as beautiful, deadly, powerful, wise and ageless. I might as well ask would you find a goth elf appealing? For me the answer would be an unequivocal yes.

They have also gone through various iterations where they have played on different societal fears. First as a symbol of death and disease. Now as the fear of sexual immorality of various kinds from promiscuity up to alternative sexualities. So it's to say they have been good at evolving with the times to remain popular. Kind of amusing how one of the creatures least compatible with evolution is so good at that very thing.

I have no particular opinion on vampires, they are just another kind of fantasy monster, some variations are more interesting than others.
Now I want to know @RepresentingEnvy 's opinion on the matter.

At first it was a horror that there's a almost immortal monster that loves to drink virgin blood living in the castle.

Nowadays, it's just mommy milkers immortal booba uga booga that probably sucks white stuff more than blood type of a thing.

They wear fancy cloaks, live in castles, and drink blood from wineglasses. They have class.

But I'd see them as villians. If you wanted to make non-evil vampires, then you would have to very carefully consider how to make one in order to pull it off well.

Ever since Twilight, Werewolves and Vampires have been the trend for love stories

laccoff_mawning said:

They wear fancy cloaks, live in castles, and drink blood from wineglasses. They have class.

But I'd see them as villians. If you wanted to make non-evil vampires, then you would have to very carefully consider how to make one in order to pull it off well.

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Whether they are evil is debatable though. Is a bear that mauls a human evil? I generally ascribe something to be evil when someone has a conscious choice in the matter and despite having a choice not to still harms others.

Most humans don't consider themselves evil despite eating meat which means animals were deprived of life and may have suffered for their sustenance.

Of course if a bear attacks humans I also think humans should shoot the bear so it doesn't do it again. Whether it is evil or not doesn't change that we prioritise the wellbeing of our own species over others.

So if there is a vampire and they only harm humans because they need to feed on blood to live are they evil? Now if they hunt humans not just for blood, but also for sport because they enjoy inflicting terror and pain on them that would put them in the evil category since they are consciously doing something they don't need to do for their own survival that harms those humans.

LuoirM said:

Ever since Twilight, Werewolves and Vampires have been the trend for love stories

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This goes back well before Twilight though it is a relatively popular iteration(unfortunately)

prognastat said:

Whether they are evil is debatable though.

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They are fantasy creatures that are often depicted as universally evil. I merely state that they work better under the depiction that they are universally evil. If you wanted to make them not necessarily evil, which you definely could, you would need to properly plan that out, and failing to do so could very well damage a story for me.

@RepresentingEnvy you're up

Vampires great! I love them. Story with vampire instantly gains at least one point. ?‍

Santaisblue said:

As the title says, what is so appealing about vampires? It is a curse for a reason so why do people like them so much? In almost all cases of vampires, you are locked to one food, can't step outside in the sun (More than half the day), and because you are immortal you can never die peacefully. The only real upside to being a vampire is the immortality and strength but in most of the fiction that vampires are in, there are MANY other ways to gain immortality or power with little to no cost. I don't want to be a downer or ruin anyone's parade but I can't see a reason for any appeal or why so many authors write about them.

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A potentially safe way to explore kinks and fetishes that would otherwise be seen as questionable if done by humans?
Examples could be like blood play, biting, devouring, BDSM, etc...

I don't know.
I'm fairly neutral about them, tbh.
'-'

X

I’m more a fae kinda of guy. Not because I’m one. No, shhh

Santaisblue said:

As the title says, what is so appealing about vampires? It is a curse for a reason so why do people like them so much? In almost all cases of vampires, you are locked to one food,

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I'm already doing that if nobody is cooking for me

Santaisblue said:

can't step outside in the sun (More than half the day)

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I'm already doing that. I'm a creature of night.

Santaisblue said:

, and because you are immortal you can never die peacefully. The only real upside to being a vampire is the immortality and strength but in most of the fiction that vampires are in, there are MANY other ways to gain immortality or power with little to no cost. I don't want to be a downer or ruin anyone's parade but I can't see a reason for any appeal or why so many authors write about them.

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For me it's the low maintenance cost that's really appealing. I'm already dead and I only need blood to survive. I wouldn't die from natural causes, so it means all the time in the world to learn everything I want to learn. Plus I get super strength, so I can be super smart and super strong. And on top of that I'm hot af and everybody wants me. Bruh. What's not to like?

DannyTheDaikon said:

I'm already doing that if nobody is cooking for me

I'm already doing that. I'm a creature of night.

For me it's the low maintenance cost that's really appealing. I'm already dead and I only need blood to survive. I wouldn't die from natural causes, so it means all the time in the world to learn everything I want to learn. Plus I get super strength, so I can be super smart and super strong. And on top of that I'm hot af and everybody wants me. Bruh. What's not to like?

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And the 'weakness' everybody is saying. Like bruh, no good villainess has no weaknesses.