"Traps in the tutorial dungeon give 9xp I think. Unless I'm mistaking them for the locks."
I don't know what the exact number. I'm clearly exaggerating. But, like I said, eitehr way removing traps are non threatening if you have a rogue capable of doing them and the game gives you one so there is no challenge.The point is, most agree that the water elemental is the most challenging encounter (combat or otherwise) in the early part of the game yet the reward for it is crap. XP is garabge, the loot is garbage.. so what is the point of fighting it except to laugh at the losers who couldn't beat it? L0L
Oh, that is why the Codex likes it. :D
So, they can wank off to their own superiority. Nothing wrong with that.
But, as a long time player/DM, it just reeks of bullshit.
Imagine in pnp if you fight an adult dragon, got 10 xp, and 100 gold. Then faught a handful of wussy kobolds and got a holy avenger and 5k xp. That is subpar DMing (and I'm being nice).