Random Generator gave me Forbidden Crypt and Shadow Guildmage. I could have made this an artifact for Alpha... but I don't know. It just seemed a shade too black.

Really, Forbidden Crypt is one of those perfect cards that doesn't need to be updated. You could print it in Magic 2015 if the name didn't infer it's an artifact and not an enchantment. A name-changed functional reprint perhaps?

Anyhow, this card didn't have the same self-exile clause at first, but I couldn't help but think that that must be broken. Something about casting Wrath of God every other turn... that just don't sound right.

I'm also not sure about the 'spell or permanent' clause, instead of just any card. Mostly, I wasn't too keen on the idea of this being used as a kill card in a deck that can self-mill itself to victory. That, and it's kind of nice that mill doesn't exile, since that means mill (and looting) gives you options. I don't know how many people would know the difference between 'spell and permanent' and 'card' though. Buggy.

So they cards you mill from the first ability don't even trigger the second ability? I never would have realized that if you hadn't mentioned the weird templating. I think that a card that nonbos with itself is a really poor design.

The first ability isn't mill; it's Reclaim (inspired by Shadow Guildmage's blue ability).

Mmm. It doesn't obsolete itself through its own nonbo. 98%ish of the time, players will play with it the right way, never realizing there's a problem. It's only when discard or mill comes up that it can be played improperly... and to be honest, I'm sure a number of players would try to break the card by using those two methods, so I guess the percentage is much higher.

I don't know. It's on the workbench for a reason. But I'm thinking it should just cost more and say "card from anywhere goes to the graveyard, exile it..." I mean, it doesn't really change the card's function. Just an annoying side effect.

I saw someone win at FNM using Duskmantle Guildmage's ability twice followed by Jace, Memory Adept's Glimpse the Unthinkable for 20 lifeloss out of nowhere. This would be an alternative to the Guildmage there. It seems Wizards are okay with a combo of that level existing. This probably would have to cost a little more in that case though.

I suppose the Guildmage is also a 2/2 creature. Maybe this would be okay in that role if it had a body to make it more vulnerable.

Good idea. 2/2 for 4 makes this work much better. Edited.