I'm considering a playthrough with the Civil War Overhaul mod because, well, it looks awesome. However, in my previous playthroughs I've always had issues with the battles for the forts and hold capitals. In particular, I seem to have problems with friendly fire. Not taking it, dishing it out. In a crowded, confusing melee, I always seem to hit and aggro my allies. This happens with melee characters as well as spell casters. I also seem to have a lot of issues with enemy archers taking me down.

So any tips for dealing with sieges? What character build would be best for this playthrough, and what strategies should I employ in a pitched battle with a lot of NPCs? Melee, archer or mage? Stay on the outskirts of the battle and restrict myself to picking off stragglers? Doesn't sound very exciting...