We are conducting fundamental research. In other words, we are not here to test suits, invent new drugs or things like that. We are trying to find a logical explanation for the things we see in the Zone. If we uncover the secrets behind even ten percent of the phenomena we see here, that would give global technological development a massive shot in the arm.

Professor Hermann

Professor Hermann is the head of the scientist expedition in Yanov in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat. He also makes a return in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

Background

Professor Hermann is a scientist working for the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and leader of the recent expedition of the Ecologists to the northern parts of the zone. He used to visit Sakharov's bunker in Yantar but eventually insisted to the head members of the Ministry of Education that a second research bunker must be available at all times, especially considering the recent predicament of the Brain Scorcher being disabled. After successfully persuading the Ministry of Education after a long argument with the head members, his bunker was dropped into the zone's northern area without military protection, owing this to Operation Fairway. This forced him to hire stalkers for field work and mercenaries for protection.

As the more cynical side of the scientific operation, he goes strictly by the book, but can be a cowardly man at times, especially when confronted with force. He sheepishly allows Black and his men to 'protect' the laboratory, and routinely refuses to send Topol and his men out without appropriate protection. Since Black refuses to lend his own men, until the player happens upon the Lab their work is at a standstill and no major breakthrough has been made.

Appearances

Call of Pripyat

Hermann, like his predecessor Sakharov, remains inside the Scientists' bunker in Jupiter at all times. He offers a number of missions that require the player to assist the scientists and their research. Completing the first of these missions will enable the player to trade with him. He also offers quests to place artifact scanners in specific anomalies, which enable the player to detect new artifacts in these anomalies. After these missions, Hermann's role in the main story diminishes, though he still gives the player a quest to find a replacement for the guards after Black's team goes rogue and attacks the player.

Documents related to Item 62 can be taken to Hermann, and he will print off his own copies while paying the player a very hefty fee, so while he may not be as useful for artifact trading as Beard, he still has some use. He also begins selling medical supplies at a decent cost, and is the only non-stash source of Anabiotics and other rare medicines such as Scientific First Aid-kits.

Related missions

• Strange Phenomenon: Hermann is one of the two potential buyers for the Altered Wheel the player finds, although he pays less than Beard.
• Intermittent psy-emissions: Hermann hires the player to cover Topol and his team as they investigate the source of psi emissions in the Northwestern Tunnel.
• Anomaly research: Hermann hires the player to plant detectors in specific anomalies and cover Topol and his team as they take measurements in anomaly fields.
• Last developments: Hermann asks the player to recover documentation about the Jupiter factory's last projects.
• Research group: If Topol and his team have been taken out, Hermann asks the player to hire stalkers to do research on the field.
• Guarding the scientists: After Black's team goes rogue (or if Black and his men are eliminated), Hermann asks the player to find new guards.

Trading

Main article: Hermann/Trading

Endings

Main article: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat Endings#The Ecologists

The Ecologists have two ending slides depending on how many missions the player completes for them.

• If the achievement Research Assistant has been obtained, the ending slide reveals that the expedition's data led to the development of groundbreaking technology, prompting the Ukrainian Ministry of Education to allocate additional funding for researching in the Zone.
• If the achievement Research Assistant was not obtained, the expedition is disbanded and Hermann and Ozersky return to the outside of the Zone to engage in unrelated work.

Heart of Chornobyl

Hermann was revealed to be a returning character in the Enter the Zone trailer, released on August 14, 2022. In the intro cinematic for the game, he is shown driving a truck carrying Skif and a Topaz scanner from the outside world to the Zone's perimeter, before being caught in an emission.

Following the events of Call of Pripyat, the Scientific Institute for Research of the Chornobyl Anomalous Area was established, and Hermann earned the position of senior researcher. He conducted research on creating artifacts outside the Zone, which led to him secretly perform experiments behind the back of the institute.^[1]

Dialogue

Trivia

• He is referred to as a "nuclear physicist" in the game files.
• Once trading is available with Hermann, he has a chance of stocking a Svarog detector regardless of whether or not Novikov has the necessary parts for one.

Gallery

The GSC game designer, after whom Hermann was modeled

v · d · e Ecologists
Locations	Yantar The area around Jupiter
Notable members	Shadow of Chernobyl Brenter Kalugin P.I. Kalugin's colleague Kruglov Sakharov Semenov Vasiliev Clear Sky Sakharov Swamp scientist Call of Pripyat Hermann Mace Novikov Ozersky Snake Spirit Topol
Equipment	Armaments AKM-74/2 GP37 IL 86 SPSA-14 TRs 301 SIP-t M200 Walker P9m Armor Exoskeleton Radiation suit SEVA suit SSP-99 Ecologist SSP-99M Suit

References