starting fights as a fragile character?

I haven't played this game since launch, and didn't get very far, but am considering playing again.

I remember that it was tough to play any kind of character other than a melee tank - because you, a squishy mage, would go up to talk to a group of NPCs, the talk will sour into combat, and now your squishy main character is in the middle of a pack of enemies and dying while your tank characters are off in the back somewhere. You, surrounded, die instantly before you can even run away back to your tanks.

Is there a way to have another party member start all conversations that might turn into fights, or to shout at people from long distances?