You should stick to the format given. But realise that it is a lot of work to add a new general. Modifying standard America would take far less time, and you could use it in the scenarios.
Still, patriot General would look like this:
PlayerTemplate FactionAmericaPatriotGeneral
Side = AmericaPatriotGeneral
BaseSide = USA
PlayableSide = Yes
StartMoney = 0
PreferredColor = R:0 G:0 B:255
IntrinsicSciences = SCIENCE_AMERICA
PurchaseScienceCommandSetRank1 = Patr_SCIENCE_AMERICA_CommandSetRank1
PurchaseScienceCommandSetRank3 = Patr_SCIENCE_AMERICA_CommandSetRank3
PurchaseScienceCommandSetRank8 = Patr_SCIENCE_AMERICA_CommandSetRank8
SpecialPowerShortcutCommandSet = Patr_SpecialPowerShortcutUSA
SpecialPowerShortcutWinName = GenPowersShortcutBarUS.wnd
SpecialPowerShortcutButtonCount = 11
DisplayName = INI:FactionAmericaPatriotGeneral
StartingBuilding = Patr_AmericaCommandCenter
StartingUnit0 = Patr_AmericaVehicleDozer
ScoreScreenImage = America_ScoreScreen
LoadScreenImage = SAFactionLogoPage_US
LoadScreenMusic = Load_USA
ScoreScreenMusic = Score_USA
;HeadWaterMark = SCTempSelectPortrait ; don't use unless we add a "generalshead for non selected generals
FlagWaterMark = WatermarkUSA
EnabledImage = SSObserverUSA
BeaconName = MultiplayerBeacon
SideIconImage = GameinfoAMRCA
GeneralImage = USA_Superweapon
OldFaction = No ; This faction was NOT available in the original Generals and should NOT be available if the oldFactionsOnly flag is set
ArmyTooltip = TOOLTIP:BioStrategyLong_Pos3
Features = GUI:BioFeatures_Pos3
MedallionRegular = SuperWGeneral_slvr
MedallionHilite = SuperWGeneral_blue
MedallionSelect = SuperWGeneral_orng
End
For this to work, CommandSet.ini needs these to be defined:
Patr_SCIENCE_AMERICA_CommandSetRank1
Patr_SCIENCE_AMERICA_CommandSetRank3
Patr_SCIENCE_AMERICA_CommandSetRank8
Patr_SpecialPowerShortcutUSA
Many objects need to be created:
Patr_AmericaCommandCenter
Patr_AmericaVehicleDozer
along with all other buildings & units of the general, and CommandButtons, and CommandSets for all of them.
It will take a while. That's why I recommend modifying an existing general.
If you need help, post in the forum. You'll get help a lot faster than if you send me a PM.
I reject all buddy requests. I don't think 'buddy' needs to be made official. It's not like you're marrying me.