So with the faction system restricting certain races to certain factions, how can I play together with my friends who are wood elves or nords if I am an orc?

Also, wtf is up with Imperial being a deluxe edition only feature? Wtf?

Pre order game, get any race any faction, also I can understand why you wouldn't want to be on the Covenant since the redguards and bretons have shown constant conquest of genocide towards your race.

...or...

Kill them in Cyrodiil

He plays as an Orc... Orcs, Bretons and Reguards are part of the same covenant: the Daggerfall Covenant.

Make them preorder and play DC. The other factions are just getting ready to hand us the Elder Scrolls anyways.

I don't see why though when Bretons and redguards group up to constantly slaughter orcs in the past and future.

Wiki page has a part that sums up it quite nicely. Whether it actually was the true reason is still unknown, I believe.

The main reason the Daggerfall Covenant was established was to return the once prosperous trade back to the region. This could not be done as long as an enemy sat on the Ruby Throne.

Merchant king of Wayrest, Emeric, took action and united the previously warring races of Breton, Reguard and Orc. He earned the trust of the kings of High Rock, earned alliance of the Redguards by a diplomatic marriage and, finally, made a war treaty with the Orcs.

I am 100% not buying this game at launch, so without preordering how can I play with them? They are also not preordering.

You change races.

I still say "kill them in Cyrodiil" is your best course of action. Besides, the only good elfs are dead ones