well i dont know about the advantages of dual spec mages with int/dex... i tried it a while ago, lv50 gear, and frankly it was just easier and worth more to stay pure int for that. if i am going to be ranged, then yes i might as well maximize my skill damage.

but you seem to be missing a key element here Who, he is saying that dex also add skill damage due to it being scaled to the character's normal damage. the question is whether pure int maximizes your skill damage and therefore your real damage completely, or if you can even out the damage with some dex by having maybe a little weaker skills but a little stronger attack and at the same time get the improved crit and hit percentages...

although tbh i looked at maximum int and dex stats with no gear and the crit difference was 7 and 10, respectively. so the only way for the crit difference to make it advantageous is if you use dex gear... and the closest you can come to that with the most int is, yet again, dual spec dexmage.

Therefore
All that has to be tested is the overall damage (looking at weapon speeds, armor of BS mobs, and skill cooldowns) of a pure int mage and a dual spec dexmage using a bow... assuming that the minute dex differences from 1-138 dex will not tip the balance.
and that still leaves us in confusion as to the power of dex to influence our skill power...

darn it all, i'm going to do a few tapjoy offers working this muddle out... good question indeed mate.