Sorry for posting so much... It won't let me edit my old post after like 10 mins or so.
ok, so i'm getting somewhere.
i edited the permissions to allow pretty much everyone access to the config and map directory.
It actually asked for my password this time but then hung up at connecting to server again. here is what i think the problem is:
2015-07-24T18:31:47 11.932 INF StartGame done
2015-07-24T18:31:47 12.014 INF ************************Weather Packages Created FROM BIOMES ************************
2015-07-24T18:31:47 12.016 INF ************************ SKY INITIALIZED ************************
2015-07-24T18:31:47 12.054 INF Load key config check
2015-07-24T18:31:47 12.055 INF Reset key config
2015-07-24T18:31:47 12.056 INF Save key config
A client which was not in the connected player list disconnected. ???
(Filename: Line: 1900)
Setting up 1 worker threads for Enlighten.
Thread -> id: d5781b40 -> priority: 1
2015-07-24T18:31:49 14.106 INF [NET] PlayerConnected EntityID=-1, PlayerID='', OwnerID='', PlayerName=''
2015-07-24T18:31:49 14.268 INF PlayerLogin: Zilla/Alpha 12.4
2015-07-24T18:31:49 14.268 INF Token length: 1368
2015-07-24T18:31:49 14.273 INF [steamworks.NET] Auth.AuthenticateUser()
InvalidOperationException: Steamworks is not initialized.
at Steamworks.InteropHelp.TestIfAvailableGameServer () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at Steamworks.SteamGameServer.BeginAuthSession (System.Byte[] pAuthTicket, Int32 cbAuthTicket, CSteamID steamID) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at AuthenticationServer.AuthenticateUser (.ClientInfo _cInfo, .AuthenticateUserCallback _delegate) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at GameManager.PlayerLoginRPC (.ClientInfo _cInfo, System.String _playerName, System.String _playerId, System.String _token, System.String _compatibilityVersion) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at NetPackagePlayerLogin.ProcessPackage (.World _world, INetConnectionCallbacks _netConnectionCallback) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at ConnectionManager.JF (INetConnection , NetPackageDirection ) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at ConnectionManager.Update () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
(Filename: Line: -1)
Platform assembly: /home/sdtd/engine/7DaysToDieServer_Data/Managed/Mono.Security.dll (this message is harmless)
2015-07-24T18:31:51 15.725 INF [steamworks.NET] GameServer.Init successful
2015-07-24T18:31:52 17.168 INF [steamworks.NET] GameServer.LogOn successful
2015-07-24T18:32:18 42.391 INF Time: 0.50m FPS: 40.21 Heap: 182.0MB Max: 182.0MB Chunks: 0 CGO: 0 Ply: 0 Zom: 0 Ent: 0 (20) Items: 20
Update****
Weird, just retried and it connected... slowly, but connected.
I'm at a loss.