So i started a new character, and have stayed around Whiterun, to level up and get me some basic armor and weapons, via smithing.

So i head off, to go find the bandits, for reward money, and i go to the fort close to Whiterun, and it's filled with bandits. Yet, when i went to this fort, with my other character, when he was in early levels(1-3), it was an imperial base and the thalmer capture a talos worshipper and try to give me a hard time. Yet when i go to same fort, level 11, its bandits and fort is cleared of imperials????

i have yet to even set foot in the main quest, all i had done is walk to whiterun, and back to riverwood to get the axe, then back to whiterun. So, what is the deal?????

the map should stay, till the quests have been started and completed, not change via what level i am.

I don't know from experience, but just from reading and lurking, that many forts will be re-populated w/ stormcloaks or imperials once you start one of the Civil War story lines. Before that time, it's bandits.

I could be wrong though... but I think that's it.

Civil War questline.

^This. Theyre full of bandits until you start the civil war quests.

Don't know if it's true, but I noticed several changes not related to civil war quest. I think it's random.

I avoid most forts prior to doing CW. I have 120 hours on my one chad an saving MQ and CW for last. I have found and cleared almost everything but bypassed almost all forts. Save them for CW