Derek Chinara Planetologist Questline in Dune Awakening
Knowledge of the Planetologist: Derek Chinara's camp sits above Testing Station No. 2. Nine contracts through stations 2, 197, 76, 29, 71 and 163.
Contents
The Planetologist school has one trainer, Derek Chinara. His camp sits on the rocks above Imperial Testing Station No. 2, east of Griffin's Reach in Hagga Basin South. His first contract, Minimic Film Recovery, sends you into that station for a hidden film. Eight more contracts follow across testing stations 197, 76, 29, 71 and 163. The Journey tab calls the line Knowledge of the Planetologist.
Quick answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Trainer | Derek Chinara, Chinara's Camp above Testing Station No. 2 |
| First minimic film | In Testing Station No. 2, behind the glowing bookshelf past the spiral stairs |
| Station order | 2 → 197 → 76 → 29 → 71 → 163 |
| Derek's superior | Cyprian Io, upper floor of the Salusan Bull, Arrakeen |
| Who knows about Kynes | Thufir Hawat (Arrakeen), or Piter de Vries (Harko Village) for House Harkonnen |
| Item from Sietch Tarl | Chakobsa Note |
| If training doesn't unlock | Tell Derek "You owe me some training." |
All Planetologist contracts and rewards
You cannot pick Planetologist at character creation, so everyone does this whole line. Every contract also pays Solari.
| # | Contract | Where | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minimic Film Recovery | Testing Station No. 2 | 700 XP, unlocks the Planetologist skill tree |
| 2 | Buried Archives | Testing Station No. 197 | 700 XP, Level 2 skills |
| 3 | Adhering to Hierarchy | Arrakeen | 700 XP |
| 4 | Science Unlocked | Testing Station No. 76 | 700 XP, Level 3 skills |
| 5 | The Search for Kynes | Arrakeen or Harko Village, Sietch Tarl | 700 XP |
| 6 | A Reasonable Routine | Testing Station No. 29 | 700 XP, a capstone skill |
| 7 | Clues from the Past | Testing Station No. 71 | 700 XP, a capstone skill |
| 8 | The Planetologist Report | Arrakeen, Chinara's Camp | 700 XP |
| 9 | The Final Piece | Testing Station No. 163 | 700 XP, capstone Conservation of Energy |
Level 3 skills come with Science Unlocked at Testing Station No. 76. If they don't appear after it, see the blockers below.
Where the questline starts
You can simply walk up to Derek's camp. Two board contracts also lead there. Assistance Required (150 XP) asks you to meet him above Testing Station No. 2. I Spy a Planetologist (700 XP) comes from Cyprian Io: find Derek, finish his first contract, then deliver a report on him at Griffin's Reach tradepost and call the issuer from your contract menu. Both stack with Derek's own line, so take them.
Basic training: Minimic Film Recovery
You can grab this film before you ever meet Derek and hand it in straight away. See our Imperial Testing Stations guide for how ID bands and locked doors work.
Advanced training
From here Derek travels ahead of you. Each contract starts by finding him at the next station, and after each one you collect your training back at his camp.
Buried Archives (Testing Station No. 197)
Adhering to Hierarchy (Arrakeen)
Science Unlocked (Testing Station No. 76)
The Search for Kynes (Sietch Tarl)
If Thufir or Piter won't start the conversation, you may need faction rank 3: check your rank in the Landsraad and houses guide. It is a long trip, so take an ornithopter.
A Reasonable Routine (Testing Station No. 29)
Clues from the Past (Testing Station No. 71)
The Planetologist Report (Arrakeen and the camp)
The Final Piece (Testing Station No. 163)
The fastest way through
- Do Station No. 2 early. It is in the starter zone, and the film unlocks the tree that every builder wants.
- Pair the O'odham stations. No. 71 and No. 163 are close together. Gear up once for both: The Final Piece is hard without mostly Mk4 armour and weapons.
- Combine trips to the Salusan Bull. Cyprian Io is upstairs; the Mentat trainer and the Trooper trainer are downstairs and next door.
- Bring a rifle for the camp ambush. The Planetologist Report ends with two sniper teams around Chinara's Camp. Approach each one from cover instead of crossing open ground.
- Plan your points. Vehicle Mining, Cutteray Mining and Scanner Mastery sit in this tree. Lay out the build in the skill planner before you spend.
Common blockers
- The next contract or Level 3 skills do not appear. Talk to Derek at his camp and choose "You owe me some training."
- Can't find the cage key in Station No. 76. Its spot can vary, and you get two chances: once after you talk to Derek and again at the end.
- Went too far in Station No. 76. If you reach the big loot room full of schematics, you passed the film. Go back to the small broken window.
- Thufir or Piter will not talk. Raise your faction rank to 3 and try again.
Rewards and what comes next
The nine contracts give 6,300 XP, plus the board contracts. You get the full Planetologist tree, Levels 2 and 3, and three capstone unlocks. The Final Piece also unlocks the Planetologist armour, a stillsuit-based set. There is no follow-up journey.
Next school? The Bene Gesserit line returns you to Testing Station No. 71, and the Swordmaster line to No. 76. The classes and trainers guide compares all five schools.
Where is the Planetologist trainer in Dune Awakening?
Derek Chinara's camp is on the rocks above Imperial Testing Station No. 2, east of Griffin's Reach in Hagga Basin South. He is the only Planetologist trainer.
Where is the minimic film in Testing Station No. 2?
In a secret room past the spiral stairs, behind a bookshelf with a glowing sliver. You can take it before you meet Derek.
Which contract unlocks Level 3 Planetologist skills?
Science Unlocked, at Testing Station No. 76. If the skills do not show up, tell Derek "You owe me some training."
Can I choose Planetologist at the start?
No. It is the only school you cannot pick at character creation, so you unlock it through Derek Chinara's contracts.
How many testing stations does the Planetologist line use?
Six: No. 2, 197, 76, 29, 71 and 163, plus trips to Arrakeen and Sietch Tarl.