Elementalist Shifter Clarification

[Ectolord]

I'm running a game and one of my players is playing an Elementalist shifter.
the wording on the abilities is vague and confusing at best. Does the shifter get any benefit for using a major form other than a movement ability and a slam attack. do they Get Ability boosts or not?

because as written;
At 4th level, when an elementalist shifter uses wild shape, she is instead affected as if by elemental body I, but she gains only the benefits listed in her elemental aspect. While in an elemental form, the elementalist shifter can speak only the elemental language associated with that form, and she can do so only if she knows it.

None of the listed aspects, (Major Forms) dictate an ability boost. and Elemental body I is small. The Aspects also do not dictate whether or not you are forced to become small, regardless of your original size.

are you supposed to apply the same element for both major and minor forms at the same time or can you mix/match like other archetypes?

[Derklord]

Ectolord wrote:

do they Get Ability boosts or not?

They don't. The wording of Elemental Form is open for interpretation, but the major aspects all turn you into a medium elemental, and Elemental Body I, the spell used, doesn't have any size-related changes for medium size, so there can't be any of them applied via Wild Shape.

Just anorther part of why the archetype is total crap, and the wild shape forms truly pathetic. Indeed, an Elementalist Shifter is better off not using Wild Shape for combat (unless the movement form/water breathing is needed), as Elemental Strike is better than what's granted by Wild Shape.

Ectolord wrote:

and Elemental body I is small. The Aspects also do not dictate whether or not you are forced to become small, regardless of your original size.

Er, what? Each of the four aspects says "Your shape changes to that of a Medium X elemental".

Ectolord wrote:

are you supposed to apply the same element for both major and minor forms at the same time or can you mix/match like other archetypes?

Wild Shape and Shifter's Aspect are seperate abilities, and those are still the abilities an Elementalist Shifter uses (even though they're altered). Shifter's Aspect applies the minor form of one of the elemental aspects when used, and Wild Shape applies the major form when used.