Today's deck fix is a bit of a twist on the usual format.  When COTD reviewed Stoic Ephemera a while back (go and check the archives if you feel so inclined; I'll be here when you get back), a loyal reader E-mailed me to point out the Ephemera's interaction with Wakestone Gargoyle.  Yes, I replied, the interaction is there, but at that time the only real experience anyone had with Dissension was at the release event, and combos of that nature just aren't viable in Limited formats, so I didn't bother to mention it.  (Readers should note-- COTD reviews tend to look at a card's overall use, unless the combo is already very well known, the reviews usually discuss the card's merits on its own with some consideration for the block it's in.)  So this reply came back, postulating the Ephemera/Wakestone combo in a Constructed deck:

Alrighty, I've got what I think is a decent card pool for a potential deck.  I'm thinking White/Blue with a splash of Black for trickiness (i.e. removal). It's going to have to function like a control deck until the Gargoyle hops out and starts smashing face with it's formerly immobilized brethren.  If you could just look it over and tell me what you think (should I adjust the colors, what's unnecessary, etc) it'd be most appreciative.  Here's  what I've come up with so far (it's Post-Dissension Ravinca Block):

Creature spells:
2W      Stoic Ephemera
3W      Wakestone Gargoyle
2U      Drift of Phantasm
3UU     Tidewater Minion
6UUU    Grozoth
WBB     Souls of the Faultless
W/U W/U Azorius Guildmage
2W/B    Minister of Impediments

Non-creature spells:
W       Valor Made Real
1W      To Arms!
3W      Proper Burial
3W      Faith's Fetters
U       Spell Snare
1U      Remand
1U      Telling Time
2U      COmpulsive Research
2U      Thunderheads
3U      Ocular Halo
1B      Last Gasp
2B      Seal of DOom
3B      Strands of Undeath
1WB     Pillory of the Sleepless
1WB     Mortify
XWU     Overrule
1WWU    Azorius Ploy
WU//UB  Trial//Error

Artifacts:
1       Peregrine Mask
1       Terrarion
2       Azorius Signet
2       Dimir Signet
2       Orzhov Signet
3       Specrtal Searchlight
4       Sword of the Paruns

Lands:
Land    Godless Shrine
Land    Hallowed Fountain
Land    Watery Grave
Land    Azorius Chancery
Land    Dimir Aqueduct
Land    Orzhov Basilica
Land    Island
Land    Plains
Land    Swamp

This is a bit of a reach for this column's format in that this isn't technically a decklist, it's a list of cards that could FORM a decklist.  I don't encourage this, in fact I am wary of setting a precedent should people decide to start sending mere deck ideas in lieu of real decklists, but this one seemed thought-out enough for me to tackle.

Now, when this type of deck comes to mind, I feel I can't really call it a full article without at least mentioning Minamo Scrollkeeper or Wall of Spears.  They're just what this deck wants-- defenders with sizable power as well.  But they aren't in Ravnica Block, and that's the format this deck is intended for according to the contributor.  So I mention them merely as a footnote.
Moving on, I have to say I'm surprised Black was chosen as the third minor color.  White is an automatic, and Blue seems like the natural second choice, but what does Black bring to the fold?  Some creature kill and Souls of the Faultless?  The Souls are quite unnecessary, as they're no good with Wakestone Gargoyle (even without defender, they have zero power-- the same with Drift of Phantasms).  Personally, I recommend Red as the third color: it too can kill creatures with cards like Lightning Helix and Volcanic Hammer, and it has Torpid Moloch, an excellent creature for such a deck.  It also has Taste for Mayhem and Riot Spikes, along with a host of other +X/+0 effects.  (Yes, I know, black can cast Riot Spikes too, but I still say red is the right call.)  Last Gasp, Seal of Doom, Pillory, and Strands of Undeath can easily become Lightning Helix (or Volcanic Hammer), Seal of Fire, Electrolyze, and Taste for Mayhem (or even Galvanic Arc).  And of course the mana base would shift accordingly.

As for the other spells, they all seem fine, though Thunderheads seems a bit questionable.  The tokens it creates get sacrificed at end of turn, so if you want to use them for an attack, you have to play Thunderheads during your opponent's end of turn step, after the end of turn trigger.  Of course, you will have to leave nearly all your mana untapped for your whole turn and your opponent's, but if it leads to three or more 3/3 flyers attacking on your turn, I suppose it's worth it.

One last card not mentioned in the above list: Walking Archive.  With its built-in card drawing ability, plus the power to add +1/+1 counters to itself, it can easily be a solid attacker in a Wakestone Gargoyle deck as well as a source of extra spells.  And since this deck is already W/U....

All in all, I think this has been a very productive brainstorming session.  Hopefully some of you will try to build a deck of this nature, and if you do, I hope you manage to innovate on what you see here.  If so, I'm sure the Pojo.com Message Boards would love to hear about it.  Good luck!

~BMoor