I have not gotten a chance to pick up the new Book of the Damned yet and before I sink money into it I have a few questions. First what happened to Soul drinker, what are the changes to it? (I heard it lost an ability) And second is create soul gem still 3rd level and can soul gems still be used for item crafting? Last how dose it fair compared to the originals?
They changed a few things. The major change was the means of draining souls:
Old Soul drinker: Energy Drain (Sp)
At 2nd level, a souldrinker gains the energy drain ability. By making a touch attack as a standard action, she bestows one negative level on the target (two levels on a critical hit). The souldrinker gains 5 temporary hit points for each negative level she bestows on an opponent. These temporary hit points last for a maximum of 1 hour. The DC to remove this negative level is 10 + the souldrinker’s class level + her spellcaster ability modifier. At 6th level, this touch attack bestows two negative levels (four on a critical hit).
To
New Soul drinker: Enervation (Sp)
At 2nd level, a souldrinker can cast enervation twice per day as a spell-like ability (CL = her character level). At 5th level, she can use this ability four times per day, and at 8th level, she can use it six times per day.
Basically the original was an unlimited guaranteed negative level (2-4 later one) with every successful touch attack the save is only to remove them. The new one puts a limit on this ability
The other changes where the prerequisites and the spell like abilities granted by horseman and early boons.
I like the updated version.