Wizard Runes
 

What is a good way to pick up Wizard Runes? I know I could buy from players, kill mobs, or buy from merchants but I'm wondering if anyone knows any specific merchants or tricks to finding runes.

Which merchants depends on what runes you're looking for. Usually you can find some of any level near banks or in caster's guilds, but other than that look for merchants in the zones of the appropriate level for the runes you want. Trying to find your level 29/34 runes? Check rathe mountains and overthere merchants. Etc.

Highkeep vendors (if you're not evil) are usually a good bet for a wide range of runes (as well as pages for other casters).

I need about 50 Runes of Xegony and of all the merchants I've checked the only 2 I found were on the tink bag vendor in sola. I imagine a lot of wizards have the problem of bottlenecking on these since they're used in 3 mid-level combines. Really annoying. I hate research so much.

Diving through the inventories of Commons and Freeport merchants is a really good way of picking up research materials. Even if they aren't displaying a rune they may still have it, you just need to be willing to buyout items that they only have a limited number of and sell them back over and over again to find out what else they have. Obviously if you're on a tight budget it isn't an ideal solution, but if you just want to get the job done that may help.

I will save any runes of Xegony I get.