The Outer Worlds 2 Science Adventures Quarterly Locations: Complete Magazine Collection Guide

Collection quests in The Outer Worlds 2 offer some of the most satisfying side content—rewarding thorough exploration with unique gear and achievements. On Paradise Island, the “In Pursuit of Purloined Propaganda” quest challenges you to track down 10 copies of Science Adventures Quarterly scattered across the region.

Rather than wandering aimlessly hoping to stumble across these magazines, I’ve mapped out every single location so you can efficiently complete this collection quest. Whether you’re an achievement hunter or just want that unique armor reward, this guide has everything you need.

How to Start “In Pursuit of Purloined Propaganda”

Two Ways to Begin

Unlike some quests that require specific triggers, this collection quest can start in two different ways:

Method 1: Find Redactor Quesnel

• Location: West of Fairfield in a small shack
• Advantage: Get the quest objectives before collecting anything
• Best for: Players who like structured quest tracking from the start

Method 2: Find Any Magazine First

• Trigger: Pick up your first Science Adventures Quarterly
• Advantage: Quest auto-starts and marks Quesnel’s location
• Best for: Natural explorers who stumble across collectibles

I recommend finding Quesnel first if you’re planning to collect systematically. This way, you’ll have the quest tracker active, making it easier to keep count as you progress. However, if you’ve already found a magazine or two during exploration, don’t worry—the quest activates automatically and retroactively counts magazines you’ve already collected.

Who Is Redactor Quesnel?

Redactor Quesnel is a Protectorate member who’s—unsurprisingly—obsessed with propaganda control. In the Protectorate’s authoritarian system, controlling information flow is paramount, and Science Adventures Quarterly apparently contains content they’d rather keep under wraps.

Her shack west of Fairfield isn’t hard to find once you know where to look. From Fairfield’s main area, head west along the road and watch for a small structure off the beaten path. Talk to her, and she’ll explain the collection parameters: bring her 5 magazines first, then find the remaining 5 to complete the quest.

This staged structure (5 magazines, then 10) provides intermediate rewards, so you’re not grinding through all 10 before seeing any benefit.

Complete Magazine Location Guide

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 1

Location: Inside an abandoned house on the west side of the flooded residential section of Westport

Detailed directions:

1. Fast travel to Westport’s travel point
2. Follow the road heading north
3. Look for the first building on your left in the flooded area
4. Enter and search for the magazine inside

Important warning: Westport’s flooded residential area is infested with Raptidons. These aggressive creatures will swarm you if you’re not careful. Clear them out before attempting to collect this magazine, or prepare for a fighting retreat.

Context note: If you’ve been following the main story, you’ll know Westport is the Protectorate settlement that suffered severe damage when Auntie’s Choice forces destroyed the sea wall. The flooding makes navigation tricky, and abandoned buildings like this one have become monster nests.

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 2

Location: Inside the crazed fisherman’s house on the far south of the southern island of Paradise

Detailed directions:

1. Travel to the southern tip of Paradise Island’s lower section
2. Locate the isolated fishing structure near the shore
3. Note: The area may be depowered when you arrive

Critical requirement: You’ll need to restore power before accessing the building properly. Head north up the hill to find a power station. Reactivate it, then return to the dock house to collect the magazine.

Enemy consideration: The isolation of this location means fewer immediate threats, but the power restoration process might involve some combat. Come prepared with adequate Inhaler Charges just in case.

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 3

Location: On a table outside a building on the docks just north of the Ministry of Accuracy on the far west coast

Detailed directions:

1. Travel to the Ministry of Accuracy area (far western coast)
2. Head slightly north to the dock area
3. Look for the outdoor table to the LEFT of the building entrance steps
4. The magazine sits on this easily-missed table

Pro tip: This is one of the easiest magazines to walk right past without noticing. The table placement is deliberately deceptive—most players naturally focus on the building entrance and miss the exterior furniture. Take your time scanning the area when you arrive.

Strategic note: The Ministry of Accuracy area connects to several important locations, making this a good collection point during natural exploration. If you’re working on crossing the Protectorate Bridge, you’ll likely pass through here.

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 4

Location: On a table on the dock on the southeastern shore of the northern island of Paradise

Two access routes:

Route 1 (Post-Bridge Crossing):

1. Cross the Protectorate Bridge and reach the Vox Relay
2. Enter the area directly south of the Vox Relay
3. Take the elevator down to the docks
4. Find the magazine on the table

Route 2 (Secret Path):

1. Go to the northwest area of the southern island
2. Find the rocky outcropping near Westport
3. Jump across the rocks spanning the bay
4. Reach the northern island directly and navigate to the southeastern dock

Recommendation: If you haven’t crossed the bridge yet, use Route 2 (the eastern alternate path). This is actually one of the secret crossings to the north island, making this magazine collection a great excuse to discover that shortcut.

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 5

Location: In a hut west of the Bridge of the Reverent (the Protectorate Bridge between islands)

Detailed directions:

From Fairfield:

1. Head north toward the Protectorate Bridge
2. Turn west before reaching the bridge checkpoint
3. Follow the western road to find the hut
4. Magazine is inside

Alternative route from Ministry of Accuracy:

1. If you’ve discovered the Ministry, head directly east
2. You’ll reach the same hut area from the opposite direction

Context: This hut sits in the contested zone between Auntie’s Choice (Fairfield) and Protectorate (Bridge) control. Depending on your story progression and faction choices, the area’s hostility level may vary.

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 6

Location: On a bed in the fishing hut directly across the bay from the landing pad

Detailed directions:

1. Fast travel to either Fairfield or your Landing Pad
2. Head to the shoreline
3. Follow the coast around the bay
4. Look for the isolated fishing hut
5. Enter and check the bed for the magazine

Navigation tip: “Directly across the bay” can be slightly misleading depending on your angle of approach. The hut is visible from the landing pad area if you scan the opposite shoreline. It’s a small, distinctive structure that stands out against the landscape.

Easy collection: This is one of the safer magazine locations with minimal enemy presence, making it ideal for early collection runs.

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 7

Location: On a table inside one of the buildings on a farm in the central part of the northern island

Detailed directions:

From Skycutter Station:

1. Head northeast from the station
2. Navigate to the central northern island area
3. Locate the farm buildings
4. Search inside for the table with the magazine

From Protectorate Bridge:

1. Cross the bridge to the north island
2. Head northwest toward the central area
3. Find the farm complex

DANGER WARNING: This farm area is frequently swarmed by hostile creatures or enemy patrols depending on story progression. Do NOT approach casually. Scout the area, clear threats systematically, and then collect the magazine.

Combat preparation:

• Stock Inhaler Charges before approaching
• Consider bringing companions for support
• Use stealth if your build supports it
• Have an escape route planned

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 8

Location: Inside a building in the Crabbing Tower on the far western shore of the southern island

Detailed directions:

1. Travel to the western coast of the southern island
2. Locate the distinctive Crabbing Tower structure
3. Find the ladder on the EAST side of the tower
4. Climb to the top control room
5. Magazine is inside

Navigation challenge: The ladder placement on the east side isn’t immediately obvious when approaching from most directions. Circle the tower completely if you don’t spot it right away. The control room at the top is small, making the magazine easy to spot once you’re there.

Scenic value: The view from the top of the Crabbing Tower is actually pretty spectacular. Take a moment to appreciate Paradise Island’s geography while you’re up there.

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 9

Location: In a house directly west of the Crabble Spawning Grounds, up the hill south of the Sovereign’s Sweet Spire Grove

Detailed directions:

1. Fast travel to Fairfield
2. Head west to the Sovereign’s Sweet Spire Grove (now under Auntie’s Choice control)
3. Turn south and climb the hill
4. Find the house west of the Crabble Spawning Grounds
5. Magazine is inside

CRITICAL NAVIGATION NOTE: Do NOT attempt to reach this location through the Crabble Spawning Grounds. There’s no connecting path, and you’ll waste time fighting through hostile creatures for nothing. Always approach from Fairfield → Grove → Hill as described above.

Lore connection: This is the same Sovereign’s Sweet Spire Grove area where you might find Ida Rutledge’s remains during the Protectorate Bridge crossing quest. If you’re collecting magazines while doing other quests, you can efficiently knock out multiple objectives in one trip.

Science Adventures Quarterly Volume 10

Location: On an outdoor table at the docks on the northwest side of the northern island

Detailed directions:

From Skycutter Power Station:

1. Head northwest along the coast
2. Navigate to the northwestern docks
3. Magazine is on an outdoor table

From Drop Pod Landing Zone:

1. Fast travel to the Drop Pod
2. Head directly north
3. Reach the dock area

Strategic timing: This magazine requires access to the northern island, so you’ll need to have crossed the Protectorate Bridge or used one of the alternate paths first. Save this one for after you’ve established north island access.

Final collection: This is often the last magazine players collect due to its northern island location and somewhat remote position. The satisfaction of completing the set makes the journey worthwhile.

Efficient Collection Route

Rather than collecting these magazines in numerical order (which would involve excessive backtracking), here’s an optimized route that minimizes travel time:

Phase 1: Southern Island – Western Side

1. Start at Fairfield
2. Collect Volume 5 (hut west of bridge)
3. Head west to Ministry of Accuracy area
4. Collect Volume 3 (dock table)
5. Continue south to Crabbing Tower
6. Collect Volume 8 (tower control room)
7. Head to southern tip
8. Collect Volume 2 (fisherman’s house – restore power first)

Phase 2: Southern Island – Eastern Side

1. Return to Fairfield
2. Head to Sovereign’s Sweet Spire Grove
3. Collect Volume 9 (house on hill)
4. Navigate to landing pad area
5. Collect Volume 6 (fishing hut across bay)
6. Head to Westport
7. Collect Volume 1 (flooded residential – clear Raptidons first)

Phase 3: Northern Island (Requires Bridge Access)

1. Cross to northern island via any method
2. Head to southeastern dock
3. Collect Volume 4 (dock table)
4. Navigate to central farm area
5. Collect Volume 7 (farm building – clear enemies first)
6. Head to northwestern dock
7. Collect Volume 10 (outdoor table)

This route groups geographically close magazines together, reducing travel time by roughly 30-40% compared to numerical collection order.

Quest Rewards Breakdown

First Milestone (5 Magazines)

Return to Redactor Quesnel after collecting your first 5 magazines to receive:

• Two Pitchball cards (collectibles for a different collection quest)
• Chunk of Bits (in-game currency for purchases)
• Quest continuation (objective updates to find remaining 5)

The Pitchball cards are particularly valuable because they contribute to another collection quest entirely, creating synergy between different collectible hunting activities.

Final Completion (All 10 Magazines)

Return with all 10 magazines to receive:

• Substantial XP reward (helps toward the level 30 cap)
• Large amount of Bits (significant money for equipment purchases)
• Townie Clothing armor (unique reward – see below)
• “SA Quarterlies Quantified” achievement/trophy (Bronze on PlayStation)

The Townie Clothing Armor (Detailed Analysis)

Special Effect: Ignores a single enemy hit once every 15 seconds

This unique armor property is genuinely useful throughout the game. Here’s why:

How it works:

• Every 15 seconds, the next enemy hit that would damage you is completely negated
• The effect triggers automatically (no activation required)
• Works against any damage type
• Cooldown begins after the hit is absorbed

Practical applications:

• Negates unexpected sniper shots
• Absorbs explosive damage that catches you off-guard
• Provides breathing room during intense firefights
• Particularly valuable on higher difficulties where damage is more punishing
• Excellent for builds that avoid damage rather than tank it

Build synergies:

• Stealth builds: When you’re spotted, the first shot gets absorbed while you reposition
• Glass cannon builds: Compensates for low defense with periodic damage negation
• Dialogue/Tech builds: Provides combat survivability despite non-combat focus
• Combat builds: Free damage mitigation that doesn’t require perk investment

The 15-second cooldown is short enough to matter in most extended fights. You’ll typically absorb 3-5 hits during a challenging encounter, effectively giving you several free Inhaler Charge uses worth of survivability.

Tips for Efficient Collection

Exploration Habits

Mark as you go: When you spot a magazine location during other quests, mark it on your map even if you don’t collect it immediately. This creates a custom collection route for later.

Combine with other objectives: Many magazine locations sit near quest objectives, faction reputation activities, or lockbox hunting spots. Efficient players knock out multiple goals per trip.

Use fast travel liberally: Don’t walk between distant locations. Fast travel to the nearest point and navigate from there. Time saved adds up significantly across 10 collection points.

Combat Preparation

Several magazine locations involve combat risks:

Always carry:

• 10-15 Inhaler Charges minimum
• Adequate ammunition for your preferred weapons
• Companion support active
• Recent save file (in case things go wrong)

High-risk locations:

• Volume 1 (Westport – Raptidons)
• Volume 7 (Northern farm – enemy swarms)
• Volume 4 (Depending on route – potential combat)

Timing Considerations

Early game (Pre-Bridge): Collect Volumes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 (all southern island locations)

Mid game (Post-Bridge): Add Volumes 4, 7, and 10 (northern island locations)

Optimal timing: Collect southern magazines while working through the main Paradise Island questline, then sweep northern magazines after crossing the bridge during the Vox Relay storyline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Collecting in Numerical Order

Numerical collection creates massive backtracking. Volume 1 is in Westport, Volume 2 is at the southern tip, Volume 3 jumps to the western coast—you’ll criss-cross the island repeatedly. Use the geographic routing I provided instead.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the Power Station (Volume 2)

Many players reach the fisherman’s house, find it inaccessible or dark, and leave frustrated without realizing they need to restore power first. Always scout the surrounding area for power stations, generators, or control panels when you encounter inaccessible locations.

Mistake #3: Charging Into High-Risk Areas

Volumes 1 and 7 are in genuinely dangerous locations. Players who rush in expecting easy collection often get overwhelmed. Scout, prepare, and clear threats systematically rather than trying to grab-and-run.

Mistake #4: Missing the Intermediate Reward

Some players collect all 10 magazines before returning to Quesnel, missing the 5-magazine milestone reward entirely. Return after 5, collect your intermediate rewards, then continue. The extra Pitchball cards and Bits are worth the brief detour.

Mistake #5: Approaching Volume 9 Through Crabble Grounds

As noted in the location description, there’s no path connecting the Crabble Spawning Grounds to the house with Volume 9. Players who try this waste time fighting through hostile creatures only to hit a dead end. Always approach from Fairfield via the Sovereign’s Sweet Spire Grove.

Synergies with Other Quests

Protectorate Bridge Crossing

If you’re collecting magazines while working on crossing the Protectorate Bridge, several efficient overlaps exist:

• Volume 5 location is near Commander Torres’s camp
• Volume 1 is in Westport (if you’re helping Vigilant Hogarth)
• Volume 9 area overlaps with Ida Rutledge’s location

Faction Quests

Depending on your faction allegiances, you’ll naturally pass near several magazine locations during faction missions. Pay attention to your surroundings during these quests—you might spot magazines without specifically hunting for them.

Companion Quests

Some companion storylines take you to remote areas where magazines are located. Having this guide handy during companion quests lets you grab magazines opportunistically.

Why Complete This Quest?

Beyond achievement hunting, the “In Pursuit of Purloined Propaganda” quest offers several compelling reasons to complete:

The Townie Clothing armor: Genuinely useful throughout the entire game, not just a cosmetic reward

XP boost: Contributes meaningfully to reaching the level 30 cap

Bits reward: Substantial money for equipment purchases, especially valuable early-to-mid game

Exploration incentive: Forces you to discover remote areas you might otherwise miss

Completionist satisfaction: That achievement/trophy confirmation feels great

Build flexibility: The armor works with virtually any build, making it universally valuable

Integration with Character Builds

Different builds benefit from magazine hunting in different ways:

Combat builds: Collection provides action through enemy encounters at risky locations

Stealth builds: Sneaking past threats to grab magazines tests your stealth investment

Exploration builds: Natural fit for characters focused on discovering everything

Dialogue builds: Magazine hunting provides non-combat objectives that still reward progression

Regardless of your background choice, this quest is accessible and rewarding.

Final Thoughts

Collecting all 10 Science Adventures Quarterly magazines takes roughly 1-2 hours if done efficiently with this guide. The Townie Clothing armor alone justifies the time investment, and the achievement/trophy provides bragging rights for completionists.

The quest perfectly encapsulates what makes The Outer Worlds 2 engaging: exploration rewarded with meaningful gear, optional content that enhances the experience without being mandatory, and just enough challenge to feel earned without becoming frustrating.

Whether you’re playing on Xbox or other platforms via Obsidian’s official channels, this collection quest remains one of Paradise Island’s most satisfying side activities.

Now get out there and hunt down those magazines. Redactor Quesnel is waiting, and that Townie Clothing armor isn’t going to collect itself.

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Quick Reference:

• Total magazines: 10
• Quest giver: Redactor Quesnel (west of Fairfield)
• Milestone rewards: 5 magazines = Pitchball cards + Bits
• Completion rewards: XP + Bits + Townie Clothing armor + achievement
• Armor effect: Negates one hit every 15 seconds
• Estimated time: 1-2 hours with guide
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (some combat required)