Many times I’ve gone to PoHate and either minis or PHers are up (even if not Magi). You need to push for a “Hate Week” among your pals where you go up, clear the PHers and then just keep returning on schedule for respawns (as you now know when the next possible magi is due). I’ve found this to be the best method for securing earth staffs, seocs, etc.

The infamous hate farmer hasn't gotten a staff for months on green.
The reality is unless your in a guild that socks minis its not likely you'll ever see a mage epic. On top of being hotly contested,it's really not very common of a drop.
You race for a Magi pop and get some sweet apothic pants more times than not

Oof yeah Mage is one of those that's just basically impossible to complete either way other than being in the raiding guild(s) that regularly hits the Hate PHs because they know the respawn.

Off the top of my head, Mage might actually be the most difficult epic to complete on P99 primarily because of the earth staff and lack of availability to MQ it (which, as an aside, kind of proves my earlier response to OP).

Lmao, I wonder how many years of 9-17 seafury farm you'd have to do to afford an earthstaff MQ xD

Earth staff would be 800-1mil, seafuries are 300p/hr if your doing about average.
So over 3000hrs of grinding for a staff of retirement.

i have a couple cleric epics rdy if u need one

Thats only 6 years, assuming you put in three x 3 hour sessions a week !

You'll get the staff then retire the character. Just pretend you got it/get a friend who is good at photoshop.