History Main / OmniImpotence

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[[quoteright:347:[[TheWatcher http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Uatu_bitching_2851.jpg]]]]

A character has [[AGodAmI omnipotence]], or [[PhysicalGod near-omnipotence]]. However, the character ends up doing... well, not much. This could be due to a lack of imagination, lack of understanding, being overwhelmed by the power, or [[PlotInducedStupidity some other reason]]. They fail to reach some simple and obvious goals. If poorly explained, it can result in FridgeLogic or reader frustration. If the godlike character is NOT the focus of the story, it is often just [[HandWave hand]] [[InMysteriousWays waved]].

This is very often done deliberately, and can be the main focus of the story. Generally, the character themselves are a device or metaphor for power and how it should be utilized. Contrast with MisappliedPhlebotinum, where the characters end up doing very little due to the author's lack of creativity, not the characters'. Related to MundaneUtility, when non-omnipotent (but still awesome) powers are put to mundane uses. The small-scale equivalent is ReedRichardsIsUseless. Compare DeusExitMachina, where a PhysicalGod may have previously done quite a bit, but is temporarily unwilling or unable to do much.

See also GodsHandsAreTied, TheGodsMustBeLazy and AllPowerfulBystander.

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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]
* ''SuzumiyaHaruhi'': [[spoiler:Haruhi has apparently godlike powers like no other but isn't aware of this, instead only exercising her powers subconsiously]]. The other characters go to great lengths to [[LockedOutOfTheLoop keep her that way]].
** Nagato is an alien with full control over a wide range of abilities, from super speed to locally stopping time, but role is simply to observe Haruhi, so her overt actions are mostly limited to those strictly necessary.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]
* Dr. Manhattan in ''{{Watchmen}}'' is literally a PhysicalGod, however his powers include knowledge of the future and so he doesn't do much because, [[NonLinearCharacter from his perspective, he's already done it]].
-->"We're all puppets, I can just see the strings."
** He starts taking a more proactive role after certain events lead to [[spoiler:his vision of the future being disrupted]] which metaphorically cuts his strings.
* In Action Comics, LexLuthor finally achieves [[AGodAmI godhood]] by merging with an entity from the Phantom Zone, which he uses to halt entropy and make everyone in the universe happy. Then he is informed that the Zone entity also made sure that he couldn't do anything ''bad'' with that power such as destroying {{Superman}}. When he realizes that his newfound power will not allow him to do the one thing he has always wanted to do (kill Superman) he immediately gives it up.
* {{Superman}}'s enemy Mr. Mxyzptlk is one of the most powerful beings in the DCU. He uses his powers all the time, but almost exclusively just to annoy people and make a pest of himself. And that's a good thing. When he actually ''does'' get it into his head to [[WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow do something more substantial]] with his powers, ''[[NightmareFuel be afraid.]]''
* Uatu the Watcher is a member of the second-most-powerful race of SufficientlyAdvancedAliens in the MarvelUniverse. However, due to a botched FirstContact eons ago, the Watchers have all taken a vow of [[{{Alien Non-Interference Clause}} non-interference]] with the rest of the universe. Uatu breaks this vow frequently (at risk of punishment by his superiors), to help Earth, but said help usually just takes the form of delivering a tidbit of crucial information to the heroes, rather than getting his hands dirty himself.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]
* ''BruceAlmighty''. Given the powers of God, he.... toilet-trains his dog. When he actually attempts to answer prayers, he doesn't do well.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]
* In the book {{Literature/Monster}} by ALeeMartinez, the BigBad is a being that was able to capture [[spoiler: the driving force that created the universe.]] However, having that power isn't all that useful, really. Yes, you have tremendous magical power, invulnerability, and immortality, but you can't really DO anything with it yourself, other than sustain your own existence indefinitely, so it tends to just sit on the shelf, gathering dust [[spoiler: as it silently manipulates the universe so that it can defeat you]]. The BigBad, can't personally tap into it's full power either, and literally has to wait billions of years for someone to come along who can actually utilize that power for [[spoiler: her]], and such people only come along because [[spoiler: the force that she controls is constantly trying to free itself from her, and since it's a cosmic force, it works over billions of years, rather than weeks and months.]]
* The universe of [[HPLovecraft the Lovecraft Mythos]] is a chaotic meaningless place devoid of hope because its creator the Daemon Sultan Azathoth is a gibbering mindless all-powerful idiot.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]
* Pretty much anything [[GoodIsImpotent not evil]] and not human in the ''[[StargateVerse Stargate]]'' series is incapable of actually helping. The Ancients simply don't allow anyone who has ascended to interfere much. The Nox and the Tollan aren't as powerful, but could still easily solve the problems of their respective episodes if they had just [[MurderIsTheBestSolution shot first and asked questions later]]. The Asgard subvert this trope. They seem to have obscure and unknowable reasons for not helping humanity or destroying the Goa'uld, saying that they were waiting for humanity to be ready to work with them... but it's revealed that they've just got the worst supply and personnel problems imaginable.
* Any time the Prime Directive Plot comes up in ''StarTrek'', the answer ''could'' come with the press of a button.
* [[strike:Brain Guy]] [[MysteryScienceTheater3000 Observer]]. PlayedForLaughs, of course.
* Mister Neutron on ''MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'', who, with his god-like omnipotence, wins a cereal contest, and transforms the frumpy love of his life into someone marginally less frumpy.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Mythology and Religion ]]
* OlderThanDirt: The "Problem of Evil" a.k.a. theodicy -- why the gods or God/supreme being allow(s) evil to take place when He/they appear to have the capability to prevent it -- has been a topic of theology since ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian times.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]
* GodOfWar: Athena needs to ask for Kratos's help, because of a silly rule that gods can't fight other gods... so get a human to help you out.
** Justified, since the entire reason Zeus declared that rule was to prevent a war among the gods...like what happens in God of War 3.
*** Ironically, Zeus himself also helps Kratos defeat Ares. And then regret immensely later, as the new God of War was even worse then the one he replaced to begin with...Too bad Zeus acted too much like a Dick, then he might actually be sympathetic.
* In ''BaldursGate'' a book telling the history of Bane, Myrkul, and Bhaal's rise to power mentions that their predecessor Jergal was a victim of this. As the undisputed GodOfEvil, he had become so powerful that nothing could truly challenge him anymore. Over the eons he grew weary of his role. When Bane, Myrkul, and Bhaal arrived at his throne and declared their intent to overthrow him, he willingly handed over his portfolios without any fuss seeing it as a release. The book has a statement that describes this trope perfectly:
--->Without challenge there is nothing, and in nothingness there is only gloom. In such a state, the difference between absolute power and absolute powerlessness is undetectable.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]
* ''[[WebComic/EightBitTheater 8-bit Theater]]'': Sarda. Despite his omnipotence (including time-travel ability), he doesn't attempt to change the past ([[spoiler:He's the Onion Kid, whose multiple foster parents were repeatedly killed by Black Mage]]). Ironically, this is actually due to his omniscience- he knows the past and future can't be changed, so he just has to go with it.
** Though Omniscience is a bit of a stretch...he certainly didn't know he would have [[spoiler:Chaos burst out from his own head.]]
** Yeah, it's complicated, mainly because everything is done [[RuleOfFunny purely for humour]]. He knows what happens in the future because [[spoiler: he's already lived it in the past, and would have heard if, say, the Light Warriors survive and continue their hilarious crimes against the world, or Chaos tried to destroy the world. He wasn't banking on the Light warriors simply fading into obsucrity as they did, or Chaos possesing him by taking advantage of the sheer impossibility of the power he had ammassed - power Red Mage explicitly states ''could not be''.]] He's omnipotent, but he ''assumed'' he was omnicient.
* Godhead Pickle Inspector in ''ProblemSleuth''. His omniscience has placed him so far above earthly affairs that only command from readers he obeys is "Fondly Regard Creation." He does eventually [[spoiler:sew the universe back together after Demonhead Monster Kingpin splits it in half]].
* [[OrderOfTheStick Order of the Stick]] The Monster In The Dark has been shown to have literally earth shattering strength, nigh-invulnerable amounts of damage reduction, and some sort of magic as well, but doesn't actually realize that it possesses these abilities and is constantly told not to join in combat by Xykon and Redcloak.
** Vaarsuvius, when suddenly attaining [[spoiler:and losing them shortly afterwards]] phenomenal cosmic powers, notes that V squandered them on flashy theatrics rather than true efficiency - which is exactly what usually happens to players whose characters gain lots and lots of powers without organically growing into them and slowly learning the benefits and limitations of each one.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]
* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' sees Ben obtaining the ability to change into the NighInvulnerable RealityWarper 'Alien X'. However, he never uses this form, as two other beings exist within Alien X, and, in order to do '''anything at all''', a unanimous vote has to be passed through all present. Unfortunately, the two have been at odds with one another for eons, and it proves to be too much work for Ben to get them to agree on anything. In ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'' we later see that this is true for the entire race.
* For example, the first time they appear they are still arguing if they should allow the dinosaurs to live or not.
[[/folder]]

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* ''[[EightBitTheater 8-bit Theater]]'': Sarda. Despite his omnipotence (including time-travel ability), he doesn't attempt to change the past ([[spoiler:He's the Onion Kid, whose multiple foster parents were repeatedly killed by Black Mage]]). Ironically, this is actually due to his omniscience- he knows the past and future can't be changed, so he just has to go with it.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' sees Ben obtaining the ability to change into the NighInvulnerable RealityWarper 'Alien X'. However, he never uses this form, as two other beings exist within Alien X, and, in order to do '''anything at all''', a unanimous vote has to be passed through all present. Unfortunately, the two have been at odds with one another for eons, and it proves to be too much work for Ben to get them to agree on anything. In ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'' we later see that this is true for the entire race.

* ''Ben10AlienForce'' sees Ben obtaining the ability to change into the NighInvulnerable RealityWarper 'Alien X'. However, he never uses this form, as two other beings exist within Alien X, and, in order to do '''anything at all''', a unanimous vote has to be passed through all present. Unfortunately, the two have been at odds with one another for eons, and it proves to be too much work for Ben to get them to agree on anything. In ''Ben10UltimateAlien'' we later see that this is true for the entire race.

* The "Problem of Evil" - why God allows evil to take place when he/they appear to have the capability to prevent it - has been a topic of theology since ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian times, which makes this trope OlderThanDirt.

[[{{Watchmen}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/omniimpotence.jpg]]
[[caption-width:400:"[[PhysicalGod I'm just a puppet who can see the strings]]."]]

[[/folder]]

This is very often done deliberately, and can be the main focus of the story. Generally, the character themselves are a device or metaphor for power and how it should be utilized. Contrast with MisappliedPhlebotinum, where the characters end up doing very little due to the author's lack of creativity, not the characters'. Related to MundaneUtility, when non-omnipotent (but still awesome) powers are put to mundane uses. The small-scale equivalent is ReedRichardsIsUseless. Compare DeusExitMachina, where a PhysicalGod may have previously done quite a bit, but is temporarily unwilling or unable to do much.

[[AC: {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[AC: ComicBooks]]

[[AC: {{Film}}]]

[[AC: Literature]]

[[AC: LiveActionTV]]

[[AC: Mythology and Religion]]

[[AC: VideoGames]]

[[AC: Webcomics]]

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]
* ''Ben10AlienForce'' sees Ben obtaining the ability to change into the NighInvulnerable RealityWarper 'Alien X'. However, he never uses this form, as two other beings exist within Alien X, and, in order to do '''anything at all''', a unanimous vote has to be passed through all present. Unfortunately, the two have been at odds with one another for eons, and it proves to be too much work for Ben to get them to agree on anything. In ''Ben10UltimateAlien'' we later see that this is true for the entire race.

* ''BruceAlmighty''. Given the powers of God, he.... toilet-trains his dog. When he actually attempts to answer prayers, [[{{Understatement}} he doesn't do well]].

See also GodsHandsAreTied, TheGodssMustBeLazy and AllPowerfulBystander.

This is very often done deliberately, and can be the main focus of the story. Generally, the character themselves are a device or metaphor for power and how it should be utilized. Contrast with MisappliedPhlebotinum, where the characters end up doing very little due to the author's lack of creativity, not the characters'. Related to MundaneUtility, when non-omnipotent (but still awesome) powers are put to mundane uses. The small-scale equivalent is ReedRichardsIsUseless. Compare DeusExitMachina, where a PhysicalGod may have previously done quite a bit, but is temporarily unwilling or unable to do much. See also GodsHandsAreTied.

* Mister Neutron on ''MontyPython'', who, with his god-like omnipotence, wins a cereal contest, and transforms the frumpy love of his life into someone marginally less frumpy.

* Uatu the Watcher is a member of the second-most-powerful race of SufficientlyAdvancedAliens in the MarvelUniverse. However, due to a botched FirstContact eons ago, the Watchers have all taken a vow of [[PrimeDirective non-interference]] with the rest of the universe. Uatu breaks this vow frequently (at risk of punishment by his superiors), to help Earth, but said help usually just takes the form of delivering a tidbit of crucial information to the heroes, rather than getting his hands dirty himself.