A different kind of tank

[PhaedrusXY]

Well, you can have reach without using a reach weapon. The feats Deformity (Tall) and one of the aberration feats can give it to you, and so can any magic that increases your size. Of course, those things work better when combined with a reach weapon, but if you really want to use a greatsword or falchion or whatever, you can still have reach.

And what's wrong with the Stand Still feat? I didn't see anything in the OP prohibiting that... It isn't tripping. That combined with Thicket of Blades and reach can make a pretty decent BFC fighter-type of character.

As said already, it is actually hard to make people attack you in D&D... and with good reason. (They're not controlled by a simple AI...) Mostly that requires spellcasting, or the Goad feat. If you could hit them with a Confusion effect, they'll automatically attack anyone who attacks them. So your buddy could smack a group of confused dudes with a Whirlwind Attack to guarantee that they'll just repeatedly attack him for the duration of the spell... That doesn't sound like a really intelligent strategy, though.

[ninjarabbit]

Intimidation could also work as a form of 'battlefield control'

Dragonborn desert half-orc half-orc paragon3/barbarian17

Skill trick: never outnumbered

1-power attack, endurance (flaw), steadfast detemination (flaw)
3-intimidating rage
6-imperious command
9-leap attack
12-reckless rage
15-improved bullrush
18-shock trooper

[MrBumberdumble]

You guys rock.  I'm going to pose a few of these ideas to him.  If he doesn't like any of them he can figure it out on his own  

I have a feeling he's going to bite on the knight 4/etc. builds.

End I do plan on convincing to take some of the field control feats like stand still and robillard's gambit.

[Endarire]

Hood is a different type of tank.  She kills people before they can act and repositions herself where she needs to be.  She handles aggro well, by having superior reach and damage for foes who come her way, or causes foes around her to flee in terror.  "Run my little bundles of XP!  Run!"

[strider24seven]

I suggest a "King of Pong"-type build.

Be Goliath or Half-Giant and take Knockback and Shock Trooper.  If you are not averse to the War Mind PrC (it has its own minor manifesting progression, which you can ignore), then the following build might work for you.  If you prefer Goliath, just take Wild Talent at first level.

Half Giant Lion Totem Barbarian 1/Dungeoncrasher Fighter 6+XXX/War Mind 5+XXX

Take Knockback, Power Attack, Shock Trooper, Leap Attack, Combat Reflexes, and so on.  If you get Combat Expertise and Improved Trip, you get extra options, but they are unnecessary.  

Charge 10 ft to your enemy, hit him and his neighbor with Sweeping Strike, and send them both flying into their allies with Knockback and Shock Trooper.  This triggers trip attempts, and if you have Improved Trip, you get further Knockback attempts.  Alternatively, bash them into objects for massive Dungeoncrasher damage.  Have a buddy set up a tower shield for you to fling bad guys into.  Get someone to fly you up and bash them straight into the ground.  Go crazy.

If you are averse to War Mind, replace it with Factotum 3 for INT to bullrush and trip attempts.  

[carnivore]

heres a Fun one to try ....Ranged Tripping, lots of Attacks, Multiple attacks, Daze and Trip effects, Ranged Combat in Melee w/o AoO

Human

Ranger 2/ Fighter(Thug Variant) 12/ Master Thrower 5/ Exotic Weapon Master 1

Feats:
Education(Human bonus)
Track(Ranger bonus)
TWF(Ranger bonus)
Exotic Weapon(Talenta Boomerang) (Fighter Bonus)
Weapon Focus(Talenta Boomerang)(Fighter Bonus)
Weapon Specialization(Talenta Boomerang)(Fighter Bonus)
Greater Weapon Focus(Talenta Boomerang)(Fighter Bonus)
Greater Weapon Specialization(Talenta Boomerang)(Fighter Bonus)
Ranged Weapon Mastery(Bludegeoning)(Fighter Bonus)
1st lvl: Point Blank Shot
3rd lvl: Knowledge Devotion
6th lvl: Rapid Shot
9th lvl: Precise Shot
12th lvl: Boomerang Ricochet
15th lvl: Boomerang Daze


Master Thrower Tricks:
Palm Throw – Each attack with little thrown weapons (i.e., daggers, shuriken, & darts) can be with two of the weapons. Do not apply your Strength modifier to the damage of either.

Trip Shot – On a successful thrown weapon attack, you can make a Trip Attack in addition to the damage. Make a Dexterity check with a +4 bonus opposed by your the opponent’s Strength or Dexterity check (whichever is better). Advantages such as ‘Stability’ apply. Bonus from Feat: Improved Trip do not apply.

Weak Spot – When attacking an opponent of your size or larger, you may make a Ranged Touch Attack (instead of a Normal Ranged Attack), though you may not apply your Strength modifier to the damage. You may only take this trick as a 5th level Master Thrower.

Exotic Weapon Master trick:
Close-Quarters Ranged Combat – does not generate an Attack of Opportunity with Exotic Ranged Weapons.

Boomerang Ricochet[General](RoE p108)req:Dexterity 13,Base Attack Bonus +4, Proficiency with Talenta Boomerang –or– Xen’drik Boomerang
If you successfully hit your first target, you may make an attack against one foe adjacent to your target with a –2 penalty. The second attack does not gain the benefit of a Sneak Attack, even if the first attack did. Halfling Fighters from the Talenta Plains and Drow Fighters from Xen’drik treat this as a [Fighter] feat too.

Boomerang Daze[General](RoE p108)req:Base Attack Bonus +5, Proficiency with Talenta Boomerang –or–Xen’drik Boomerang
Any creature taking damage from your Boomerang attack is Dazed for 1 round (FortNeg, DC = 10 + damage dealt). Can apply to both targets in the case of a Boomerang Ricochet. Halfling Fighters from the Talenta Plains and Drow Fighters from Xen’drik treat this as a [Fighter] feat too.

Boomerang, Talenta(Eb p120) 1d4 (20 / x2) 30’ Range Increment, Bludegeoning or Piercing,  15 gp, 1 lbs, Returns after a miss (AC 10 to catch).

 

[Arz]

Totemist 2
Shedu Crown (trample), Winter Mask

Incarnate (chaos or evil) for the rest
Lightning Gauntlets, Astral Vambraces (Trip w/ slam), Mantle of flame

Shape soulmeld mauling gauntlets and any extra dmg dealers are nice.

Your stick is to trample and force a fort v fatigue and trip attempt while delivering cold/electricty on top of the trample. Pump your ac up but if they do hit you they take fire dmg. You could get up to 400' of trampling in chaos mode.