Ok, so I have seen a couple high level wizards that start with three power pips. I battled with a few and I see them start with three every time! I'm very confused (Not in PVP).
I read online that it's not possible and it's only for PVP.
I already tried it with the wands, and I never start out with three power pips. (Power pip chance: 78%)
If there is gear that actually let's you start with 3 power pips:
1. Where can I get one? 2. Can I craft some? 3. Where is the best place to get the recipe?
You cannot start with 3 power pips in PvE. I'm guessing that you saw this happen when you joined a battle late. If you were standing there in the battle but missed first round, they passed or cast a 0 pip spell, when you started they had 3 power pips. But it was second round for them. The upcoming Khrysalis part 2 update has decks that add another pip, but it is a regular white pip not power.
As you most likely know, there are some wands that give plus one pip at the beginning of a battle. Some extremely rare wands, my brother has one, give you plus 2 pips. I am not sure about this but there might be some gear as well. Do not worry, they weren't hackers, just lucky people