>1) "add shield location", "add aura location", "add barrier
>location" edges.

This is on Nep's list, and probably fairly likely to see the light of day at some point.

>2) Consider moving "detect artifact" to lower levels. Probably
>with some limitations like not detecting high level wands.
>This spell would be more helpful if mages could actually start
>exploring before heroing.

What level do you want to see it at?

>3) Some sort of quest that gives you vague hits about your
>locations. With requirements like with edges: 30-40 levels, some
>exp/obs points, some age hours.

This, to me, is the least interesting solution. How does random quest mob even know where your wands are to be able to provide you a hint. The requirements you list are fairly useless, by the time someone hits 30-40 they will almost always have immxp/obs & some age hours.