What is combat like in dragon age origins?

I've heard you don't control your troops directly in battle but here is what i want to know. Is it like in knights of the old republic where you just tell them what attack you want to use and they move themselves to do it or is it something completely different? I ask as i am considering getting this game for my 360.What is combat like in dragon age origins?
It is very similar to KotoR. At any time you may pause the game and order new targets, change tactics or tell to use abilities. Also you may control any character in your party directly and use its abilities while the others fight as you told them to.What is combat like in dragon age origins?
think of pausing combat and queuing up commands. that or you can use a AI script to make them do stuff on the fly by themselfs as in "you set *person* to use a potion at 25% hp* then in combat the person will do it without any command to do so untill you change it.