Equipment and materials will be highly limited. Shorter, come and go missions.
It will make up with more story, items, greater details and less, though tougher, enemies.
Examples: Obsidian tipped spears, raptors instead of mistresses, legbone as a weapon, mammoth hunting to provide food for your cave.
About Silva turning you into a wolf, what if she turns you into a werewolf that can equip? I've got werewolves that can equip in a dungeon I've been thinking of.