Computer-controlled allies

[Dwalin2012]

Just would like to ask people's opinions: in any Elder Scrolls game, is it possible for a mage character to effectively play quests involving computer allies without killing them in the process? I mean, even if I use spells with a small radius effect, the computer-controlled allies always manage to get in the way and usually take more damage than the enemies. Don't know, maybe it's just me so clumsy so I always just ask them to wait, then clear the way by myself. But I just started replaying Oblivion using mods, and there are many which are focused on group-on-group battles. So could you please suggest an effective strategy to fight using computer allies without hurting them too much?

[Norroen Dyrd]

I generally use the console to make my followers essential, just in case.