Not really sure what it could be. I'm having no issues on my end. Closest thing I can figure is that maybe the files didn't update/carry over completely. Try manually deleting the server's config folder in Filezilla and then adding in the one from the zip.

A new map shouldnt be required. Only thing they really changed in the update xml-wise was the entityclasses.xml, essentially.

Here was the error message:

2017-10-28T01:31:53 9.215 INF StartAsServer
2017-10-28T01:31:53 9.366 INF createWorld: Random Gen, XXXX, GameModeSurvivalMP
Exception: Parsing biomes. Prefab with name 'resource_oilshale_pile.tts' not found!
at WorldBiomes.NH (Byte , System.String , System.Xml.XmlElement , Boolean ) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at WorldBiomes.NH (Byte , System.String , System.Xml.XmlElement , Boolean ) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at WorldBiomes.AH (System.Xml.XmlDocument , Boolean ) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at WorldBiomes..ctor (System.Xml.XmlDocument _genxml, Boolean _instantiateReferences) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at GameManager+BI.MoveNext () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at UnityEngine.SetupCoroutine.InvokeMoveNext (IEnumerator enumerator, IntPtr returnValueAddress) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0

(Filename: Line: -1)

Platform assembly: C:\bluefang\servers\serverXXXXX\7DaysToDieServer_D ata\Managed\Mono.Security.dll (this message is harmless)
2017-10-28T01:32:12 28.367 INF Telnet connection from: [omitted IP]
2017-10-28T01:32:12 28.367 INF Started thread TelnetClientReceive_[omitted IP]
2017-10-28T01:32:12 28.368 INF Started thread TelnetClientSend_[omitted IP]
2017-10-28T01:32:12 28.453 INF Telnet connection from: [omitted IP]
2017-10-28T01:32:12 28.453 INF Started thread TelnetClientReceive_[omitted IP]
2017-10-28T01:32:12 28.454 INF Started thread TelnetClientSend_[omitted IP]
Unloading 6 Unused Serialized files (Serialized files now loaded: 2)
2017-10-28T01:32:14 29.827 EXC Object reference not set to an instance of an object
NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
at ConsoleCmdMem.FillStats (Boolean _bDoGc, .GameManager _gm) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at ConsoleCmdMem.GetStats (Boolean _bDoGc, .GameManager _gm) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at ConsoleCmdMem.Execute (System.Collections.Generic.List`1 _params, CommandSenderInfo _senderInfo) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at SdtdConsole.TA (System.String , CommandSenderInfo ) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
UnityEngine.DebugLogHandler:Internal_LogException( Exception, Object)
UnityEngine.DebugLogHandler:LogException(Exception , Object)
UnityEngine.Logger:LogException(Exception, Object)
UnityEngine.Debug:LogException(Exception)
Logger:masterLogException(Exception)
Logger:Exception(Exception)
Log:Exception(Exception)
SdtdConsole:TA(String, CommandSenderInfo)
SdtdConsole:Update()

Apparently you're missing a prefab file. Do note that my prefabs folder is not intended to replace yours, only merge with it.

did you get it sorted vicious

We did a full reinstall of the server and valmod. Bluefang couldnt nail down the source of the problem, but between the reinstall, and adding startup and config info to the command line, the server is running. Who knows?! lol. Thanks for the help, though.