I do not post a lot. I read these forums to get hints at doing something another way, etc. So...

I am level 14 and Im just about to light the dragonfires, Martin keeps following me around, but I went to my house and told him to wait for me there. His response is is to hurry up, the longer I take the more gates will open up. Now I'm not worried so much with numerous open gets, but will Cyrodill along with me suffer?

Like I said I'm level 14. I've read where others are in there fifties, and how they wished they'd stopped at 20. How do they do that?

I have plenty of saves, I can even go back to the beginning, but I would want to change things just before I left the sewers. Which raises another question. I want to start as a mage. How do I help protect against physical attacks? That is the biggest hurdle I see, because even goblins and rats gave me grief in the sewers when I had some AC.

The Gates being open doesn't matter to the realm. Only thing I can think of is a passing guard might get attacked by the monsters who hang around the gate. Nothing is going to happen until you advance the quest, though it seems a strange time to be hanging out with Martin, right before the culmination of the game, but hey, each to her/his own.
As for the mage:
Shield spells work wonders. They stack. Think potions too.
Also, at level 17 you get the best sigil stones of the game. I go into gates to get a fire shield, frost shield and shock shield enchanted sigil stone. I put these on street clothes. Instant Armor Class of 75, a mere 10 below the highest armor class you can achieve. Though at the moment, my level 30 Archer only has a shield of 25, but I digress. The other two slots for clothing, are where my mages normally put fortify magicka 50 sigil stone enchantments. Now I'm a walking tank with extra magic. To start....
I love being a mage. My favorite is creating new spells and playing with them. :flamethrower:

i have played as a pure mage for 20 levels. conjuration and invisibility. conjure up something and avoid being hit such as going invisible, conjuring up friendly nasties is useful in the early levels. then there is command humanoid and command creature, very powerful. but can't wear any armor.

Thanks thats great!

I opted for it said something about shadow/class, I can'r remember now. You can go invisible once per day. From what I have played. It sounds to be valuable.

If you are talking about the Shadow birthsign for a mage type, I would recommend you consider one of the birthsigns that boost your magic (I generally prefer Mage). That can help you can go invisible many times per day!

a breton with the mage sign can cast invisibility twice, back to back. caste invisibility to scout the area, inside. find a target, stab them with a poison blade and then go invisible. very effective on those not immune to poison.