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On page 196 of the Advanced Race Guide is a nagaji racial druid archetype called the naga aspirant. It has an ability called Naga Shape, that reads as follows:
At 6th level, the naga aspirant can use her wild shape ability (gained at 4th level, as normal) to assume the form of a true naga. This effect functions in a similar manner to a shapechange spell with the following exception. The druid's true naga form is unique, representing her personal evolution. When taking naga form, the nagaji's body transforms into that of a large serpent, though she keeps her own head. The naga aspirant loses her limbs and her size increases by one category, granting her a +4 size bonus to Strength and Constitution, a –2 penalty to Dexterity, and a +2 enhancement bonus to her natural armor bonus. She gains a +10 enhancement bonus to land speed and a bite attack that deals 1d6 points of damage. She can cast verbal spells in this form, but cannot cast spells with other components without metamagic or feats such as Natural Spell.
This ability otherwise works like and replaces wild shape.
My naga aspirant just got to 6th level and I need to have a handle on all of this, but this description raises a number of questions.
1) Naga Shape states that the druid "can use her wild shape ability (gained at 4th level, as normal)", but goes on to say "this ability otherwise works like and replaces wild shape". Does using this ability consume usages of Wild Shape?
2) If Wild Shape is gained as normal at 4th, but this "otherwise replaces" it at 6th, does that mean the final result of this ability is Wild Shape once per day that can only be used as beast shape I (to transform into a Small or Medium animal) or Naga Shape? Or does it only replace the 6th level form, basically skipping over beast shape II and elemental body I but eventually giving more usages of Wild Shape per day and the other more advanced forms?
3) Naga Shape states both that it works like shapechange and that it works like Wild Shape, and then stipulates a number of exceptions. It never specifies which aspects it borrows from Wild Shape and which it borrows from shapechange (if any). Shapechange lasts for 10 minutes/level and allows you to change forms as a free action during that duration. Wild Shape lasts for 1 hour/level and allows you to change form as a standard action that doesn't provoke. Neither allows you to take the form of an aberration or stipulates what benefits you gain from doing so. My assumption is that Naga Shape's additional text specifies all the known benefits of the ability, but what's its duration? Does shapechange actually have anything to do with the ability?
4) Nagaji have a number of racial traits (armoured scales, resistant, serpent's sense, and low-light vision) that would seem to depend on original form. The flavour of this ability is such that it represents an evolution of the druid, though, so it seems strange to lose these abilities. How does this work?
5) Aberration is not among the types listed in the polymorph rules as causing your gear to meld into your form. Does this mean the naga aspirant's armour continues to function without the wild property? What about rings and weapons since the druid loses his or her arms?
