Do I really need to use 5 character slots just to play all of my specialized orky subfactions? Is there a way to just switch subfaction specialization while keeping the progress of the previous?
Nope, there needs to be a reason for you to buy more slots. And every subfaction being and feeling unique is one of the main ones.
from the State Of The Crusade III We want you to try different factions and sub-factions this gives me hope that the Dev's are looking at a more elegant solution for trying out a different sub faction than "make a new character". personally i am hoping for something like purchasable sub faction slots for a character. as each sub faction will have its own progress tree each could have its own experience pool meaning that players still have to work at unlocking things in the new sub faction but they don't have to start from scratch with a new character when it comes to things like items.