Another disconnect: My mom prefers to dive into working on projects. My dad likes to research things first to make sure he's using the most efficient method.

Oh right, I was going to talk about this, wasn't I? So, a while ago I was thinking about how to sort antagonists who have a large base of people they can call on as their weapons, and I think the main difference here has to do with what those people expect from the person calling on them. For Birds who have collected a lot of people, they generally are offering those people something in return. Think hired henchmen who are just there for a paycheck or a favor in return. "I Know a Guy" Birds tend to use people because those people can offer a skill that the Bird can't perform themself, either because they don't have the skill, or don't have the logistics to do it themself. There are also Birds who build others into the tool they need them to be, usually through training. Since we're talking antagonists weaponizing people though, this can easily take a dark turn if this is done without consent or awareness, like with brainwashing or grooming.

Badgers, on the other hand, have invested time and effort into the community, showing the community that they are reliable and trustworthy. So, the community invests right back. If the Badger asks the people for something, they will respond according to the Badger's reputation. Badger antagonists who have worked themself into an authority position are particularly dangerous, in that they simply have to point at a target, ask the community to attack, and it will. Another important thing to remember here, is that communities are living entities all their own. If the signal goes up that the Badger needs something, the word spreads, and the community may act on its own or even ignore if a Badger tries calling off an attack. This is something we see in real life quite often with bullying, especially on social media, since a good deal of what happens online is all based on reputation.

Bird vs Badger anon again. For example, I'm trying to write a novel and I am using my general knowledge of medieval times that I've absorbed from historical fantasy being my favorite genre, but I'm also asking friends for feedback, bouncing ideas off them, etc. I thought of setting it in regency England because I've recently started reading a bunch of regency novels but I don't know as much detail about regency England and trying to research enough to get it perfectly historically accurate sounds exhausting and stressful.

Are you a mind-reader? Because I was just mulling over the difference between Badgers and Birds using people as a resource (though I was thinking about Badger antagonists weaponizing a community versus Bird antagonists using people as weapons and what exactly the difference there is). But all that is another post.

Anyway, I'm going to go with Badger secondary for you for three reasons. First, it could be just word choice, but when you say you're using the information that you "absorbed" over the years, that is a Badger thing. One of the distinguishing factors between Birds and Badgers is that Birds collect their tools and resources, but Badgers become what they need to be to overcome obstacles. This is true with information too. It's a part of you, something you've "absorbed."

Second, you say that the people you're contacting for help are your friends or support groups. A Bird secondary would be more likely to search out a person with specialized knowledge in the subject they need advice on, and their relationship with this person is about that advice. It's more transactional. This, of course, isn't to say Birds can't become friends with the people they've collected, but when asking for advice, the Bird will go to that specialist first instead of asking the community at large. But you're going to your friends, and you've given me no indication that they're specialists in writing or medieval times. (And while support groups may have some specialists in them, the groups generally emphasize community bonds and support first and foremost.)

Plans is probably the wrong description. You might prepare, by knowing who someone is and what their interests are. You might get someone you already know to introduce you. And it's a very Bird secondary affectation to think that knowing cool things or working on neat projects is what makes you interesting to talk to (poking fun at myself here 😆)