With the new system, what is the best way of finding Sages?
Give up.
Honestly, I hate the current system. I used to find two sages a week, one at the very, very least. Now I'm lucky if I find one a month. I don't bother accepting contracts to repair items anymore because it's just not worth the hassle.
One of my nobles has had an advy trying to repair an item for him for
three months with little success.