More Input:
Lunars/Shapechange: Now the Lunars have more the form of Shapechange gift that I was thinking of... One form, no limits on changes/day. If by "single ordinary animal (selected when you receive this gift)" in the "Entry Gift" of Shapechange (ODotF:21) you mean (for instance) "a grey panther", then this is the way that I think it should work. On the other hand, if "single ordinary animal" means "any feline" (or ursine, or canine, or avian, or piscian, or equine, or whatever), then maybe uses/day would be required.
Also, there are a lot of unanswered questions, with this gift (and with Druidic Wildshape, in general)! When a PC shapechanges to
Animal-type, do they get the benefits of that type (see MM:305-6)? Druids, I assume, do (so they get Low-light vision, immunity to
Hold Person and
Charm Person, any special attacks and/or special qualities that the animal does, like
Pounce or
Scent), etc.
Also, the type of creature that one can become should be limited by their hit dice... No becoming a Dire Cave Bear at first level!

Thus, I favor something like "one genus". A PC who gets Shapechange at first level (instead of becoming a grey panther, which is too high HD for his level) can become a fluffy, pretty-kitty, or an angry alley-tom. At third level (IIRC), he could become a Cheetah, and so on...
I'm not sure if that's what the writer intended, but I think it works better. It limits the power, according to the PC's level, without taking away the utility.
Another question is, while the PC retains his/her own skills, do they lose racial bonuses, and/or gain those of the form changed into? For instance, does an Elf who changes into a first level alley-cat gain a bonus to Jump (or whatever cats get) while losing +2 to Search, Spot, & Listen? Does an Orc changing to Ursine form lose Darkvision?
(As I said, before, I could pester you with a great many questions about this gift!)
What about sizes? Druids can't become a Cat (Size category Tiny) until 11th level, but since there aren't that many canines/felines/ursines, etc., in D&D, limiting the gift in this manner would make it unusable for some time, in all likelihood... Probably not what you wanted...
On another hand, maybe what you want is the
Alternate Form (Su) ability from the MM:305, which answers most of these questions? If so, there still needs to be some HD restrictions, even if the form is limited to
Animals, only. Dire Cave Bears at first level is still a no-no.
Anyway, something to think about...
