no i'm not confusing anything. just because you CAN use all sorts of material, doesn't mean you have to. pick a combat shape (some cat or some bear) and two traveling shapes (horse, giant eagle). get a wolf, then a brown bear as companion. pack your spell slots full with utility spells such as resist energy, and use summon animal for more wolves and brown bears in combat. fuck the rest. you won't compete with god wizards, but you'll be a valuable party member in any party.