The use of templates for the Wild Shpae forms is what I was expecting, and I think they've implemented them fairly well. Cosmetically, they are keeping fun by letting you play a tiny elephant or a Large rat, or whatever. You no longer have a hip-point-sink, which is good.
NOW...
I'm really interested in how they are determining the STR and DEX of the wild shape forms -- you keep your stats on CON which makes sense, since you are also keeping your own hit points), and INT, WIS, CHA as before. For the land form you (a) get to use your WIS for STR and DEX. The immediate implication of this is (b) to change your attack modifier and damage modifiers to your WIS score rather than STR or DEX... which of course is what happens anyways (+spell mod to hit, +WIS to damage). Both of these are the same: i.e. if we didn't have (b) it would still be true because of (a), and (a) is only going to come into play for out-of-combat uses of Strength and Dex.
Similarly, (c) your AC is 10+WIS, which is what it would be if you used your modified DEX in any case: again (a) and (c) are technically redundant in most contexts. They aren't for determining Initiative (where you are now adding your WIS bonus, since your WIS is your wild shaped DEX), and you add WIS to your skill checks for grapples, etc.
I've said they're redundant, but I'm not sure they are -- I think this is powerful design-wise.
NOW...
I'm really interested in how they are determining the STR and DEX of the wild shape forms -- you keep your stats on CON which makes sense, since you are also keeping your own hit points), and INT, WIS, CHA as before. For the land form you (a) get to use your WIS for STR and DEX. The immediate implication of this is (b) to change your attack modifier and damage modifiers to your WIS score rather than STR or DEX... which of course is what happens anyways (+spell mod to hit, +WIS to damage). Both of these are the same: i.e. if we didn't have (b) it would still be true because of (a), and (a) is only going to come into play for out-of-combat uses of Strength and Dex.
Similarly, (c) your AC is 10+WIS, which is what it would be if you used your modified DEX in any case: again (a) and (c) are technically redundant in most contexts. They aren't for determining Initiative (where you are now adding your WIS bonus, since your WIS is your wild shaped DEX), and you add WIS to your skill checks for grapples, etc.
I've said they're redundant, but I'm not sure they are -- I think this is powerful design-wise.