Day Z: Sleep Or Survival?

DayZ is a post-apocalyptic open-world survival game. Players can run for days and nights without stopping for a long rest, and there are beds and chairs in most buildings that cannot be used. While there is no sleep mechanic in the game, there is a sleep emote on PC that puts players in a sleeping position on the floor. Players can also sit and do nothing for a few minutes to rest, but this mechanic has been criticised for forcing players to do nothing for a minute every few minutes.

There is no sleep mechanic in DayZ, but there is a sleep emote

In DayZ, there is no sleep mechanic, meaning that players do not have to sleep or rest in the game. However, there is a "sleep" emote that allows players to lay down and curl up as if they are sleeping. This emote can be accessed on PC by holding '.' and selecting it from the emote menu. While using the sleep emote, players can wait out the night in real-time, but they are vulnerable to attacks as it takes a long time to get out of the sleep animation.

The lack of a sleep mechanic in DayZ is intentional, as the game does not want to force players to do nothing for extended periods. Instead, players can manage their energy levels by eating and drinking, and they can rest by sitting down for a short period. However, some players have expressed a desire for a more realistic survival experience, including the need for sleep and rest.

Despite the absence of a sleep mechanic, players can still role-play sleeping by logging out when their character is standing on a bed or imagining that their character is already asleep, and the game world is a dream. Additionally, players can use the sleep emote to enhance immersion, even though it does not provide any gameplay benefits or restore energy.

Overall, while DayZ does not have a sleep mechanic, the inclusion of the sleep emote adds a layer of immersion and role-playing opportunities for players who want to simulate the need for sleep in the game.

Players can wait out the night in real-time

In DayZ, there is no sleep mechanic. However, players can use the "lay down" emote to simulate sleeping. On PC, this emote can be accessed by holding '.' and selecting it. Using this emote puts the player's character on the floor in a curled-up sleeping position, allowing them to wait out the night in real-time.

While there is no actual sleep mechanic, players can still rest in the game by sitting down and doing nothing for a short period. In the early versions of the game, this was achieved by pressing F3 and remaining idle for a minute or two. However, some players found this mechanic frustrating as it forced them to remain inactive for a period of time.

Waiting out the night in real-time by using the "lay down" emote can be risky. It takes time to get out of the sleeping animation, and if another player enters the room or area where you are "sleeping," you may be vulnerable to attack. Despite this risk, some players find that using the "lay down" emote adds to the immersion of the game.

Additionally, players can address feelings of tiredness in the game by ensuring their character is well-fed and hydrated. Eating and drinking sufficiently will remove any notifications indicating hunger or thirst, which can otherwise cause feelings of exhaustion.

Getting out of the sleep animation can get you killed

In DayZ, there is no sleep mechanic. However, there is a "sleep" emote on PC, which is called "lay down". This emote puts your character in a sleeping position, allowing you to wait out the night in real-time. While this feature is quite immersive, it can also be dangerous. Getting out of the sleep animation takes time, and if someone runs into the room or area where you are "sleeping", you can and will get killed.

The sleep animation in DayZ has been a topic of discussion among players, with some suggesting that it should regenerate health slowly. This would allow players to rest near a campfire and gain health while their friends are away or while they are taking a break from the game. Others have suggested that sleeping should provide comfort similar to the game Rust, where players regenerate health faster when they are indoors, near a fire, and in a bed or chair.

While some players enjoy the idea of a sleep mechanic for its role-playing potential and added depth, others are concerned that it could become a nuisance if not implemented properly. For example, if a player's game crashes or they get kicked from the server while sleeping, they could be vulnerable to attacks. Additionally, some players worry that a sleep mechanic could encourage competitive farming, building, and killing, shifting the focus of the game away from survival.

Overall, while the sleep animation in DayZ can be a fun and immersive feature, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with it. Getting out of the sleep animation can take time, and in a game like DayZ, those few seconds could mean the difference between life and death.

Hunger and thirst can make your character feel tired

Similarly, thirst can also lead to feelings of tiredness. If your character is thirsty, you will see messages such as “I feel tired”, “I feel run-down”, and “I feel like taking a nap”. If your character is dehydrated, you will see messages such as “I feel exhausted”, “I feel extremely tired”, “My head pounds”, and “I feel dizzy”.

The rate at which hunger and thirst decrease depends on various factors. Firstly, the more you eat or drink, the faster hunger and thirst decrease. Therefore, it is recommended to keep your food and drink levels just above the yellow threshold to maximise the efficiency of your food reserves. Additionally, the type of food and drink affects the rate of decrease. For example, eating a box of cereal restores around 1000 energy but drains 250 water, whereas eating sardines restores 333 energy and adds close to 100 water.

Another factor that influences hunger and thirst rates is temperature. If your character is cold, they will burn through food and water at a much faster rate. Therefore, it is important to wear warm clothes to maintain a stable temperature and conserve food and water.

Finally, the amount of physical activity also impacts hunger and thirst. Standing still, walking, jogging, and sprinting all have different base rates of energy burn. For example, the base rate of energy burn for standing still is 0.01, while the base rate for sprinting is 0.61. As a result, it is advisable to avoid sprinting unless absolutely necessary to conserve energy and prolong the time before needing to eat or drink again.

Players can rest by sitting and doing nothing for a few minutes

In DayZ, the post-apocalyptic open-world survival game, there is no sleep mechanic. However, players can use the "lay down" emote on PC by holding '.' to put their character in a sleeping position. While this is a fun and immersive feature, it does not serve any practical purpose and can even get your character killed if an enemy player runs into the room while you are "sleeping".

It is worth noting that the game is meant to be played in real-time, so when players log off to sleep in real life, their character is also sleeping in the game. Additionally, the only break players get from the game is the inability to get killed while they are offline.

Frequently asked questions