Why doesn't Batman go full throttle more often?

[Lago_AM3P]

While his regular array of gadgets and costumes are good enough for the streets of Gotham, we know that Batman has equipment that increases his strength and speed and gadgets that make his batarangs small and weak.

Question: Why doesn't Batman use these all the time? It's not like he's Green Arrow and can't afford to use atomic arrows all of the time--he's frickin' Bruce Wayne.

So what's the deal? Why doesn't Batman just load up in a fully cybernetic costume and whup ass?

[Josh_Kablack]

Pick at least one:

1. Because No Fear has the same amount of caffenie but a higher fruit juice content.

2. Because he doesn't want to be accused of ripping off Cameron Diaz

3. Because most of his powerups are bought in a VPP ( 40 Active Point Gadget Pool, All powers must be IIF or greater -1/4, Powers Only Change in Batcave -1/2, Powers Only Change after Bats gets his ass kicked in the first round -1/4, total cost 50 points).

4. Alternately, they are bought using the Gadgets power, and cause Bats to either become fatigued or use a hero point every time he comes up with (or uses) a new device.

Duh.

[RandomCasualty]

It's for the same reason that Superman doesn't go crazy superspeed against street punks. Mainly because it's a comic and they want to make it appear more interesting.

[PhoneLobster]

Its probably important to remember two things about batman (other than the thing RC mentioned, I suppose, though its a boring answer).

1) He's supposed to be a really tough martial artist dude. So he needs the in the field practice.

2) Batman is off his rocker, he puts on a mask and fights crime, he has identity issues, he has well, Bats in his belfry. He is insane, be glad he doesn't decide to go the streak and fight 50% of the criminals in the nude while claiming to be a dwarf indian elephant.

[Username17]

In story: It's because his exoskeleton makes him less stealthy, his high explosive 'rangs would kill normal people, so the high-end gear is actually counterproductive for most batman missions.

In character: It's because there is a limited amount of crap you can wear. I just fitted myself up with a pack that contains (among other things) food and water for 4 days. When you're outfitting yourself in adventuring gear, weight and space fills up fast. And that means you have to cut some of the crap. And the anti-space god explosives go first.

In game: It's because there's a "stop" on putting attributes in variable power pools. So Batman's player needs permission from the GM to do that. And that means that he has to be in a situation which is so dire that the GM will allow him to set his VPP up in a cheesy way.

-Username17

[User3]

My in character take on it that leaves out rules and system analysis.

Part of the mission of the Bat is giving the everday man of Gotham some hope in their life. Part of the intrigue with Batman is that underneath the suit and cowl he's really just a man. Any other man in Gotham if so motivated could achieve what the Batman has achieved and that's part of his power against crime. He makes the everday man think, if even in the back of his head, that maybe someday he could do something against the scum of the earth if he only put his mind to it.

Doing Batgod things with power suits and high explosive devices takes away from that image and part of the purpose of the Batman even if it would make his job easier.

[Oberoni]

In addition to what others have said, I believe that Batman absolutely, positively, does not want to lose what it means to be human.

Batman could probably build a sweet battlesuit. He could even own a Green Lantern power ring if he really wanted to. However, he seems to shun anything that would make him more than a well-honed man fighting against villainy.

Yeah, sometimes that seems detrimental to his health, but Batman's survived ok so far.

[power_word_wedgie]

1126912477[/unixtime]] ... be glad he doesn't decide to go the streak and fight 50% of the criminals in the nude while claiming to be a dwarf indian elephant.

Now THIS would make an interesting Batman movie ...

edit: To expand on what others have said, it's the sam reason why you don't let the characters wait around and just kill the monsters when they're taking a dump ... it's not very sporting.