I'll make a note of the smithy. That would be a good place to warm up.
The bit before The Tower is the introduction. The Tower is more intended to be a different sort of experience, or at least a means to an end. I wanted Sienna to have all her children before moving on with the game, and The Tower basically accomplishes that.
I'll try not to spoil anything, but I'm guessing that version you last played didn't address that. Anyway, there's a new option at the end of The Tower now.
By the way, depending on how much you talk to them they will either rape Sienna as a human (if you didn't talk to them), or they will refuse if you exhausted all their dialogue. Aside from the first guy, of course, and even Jennifer distrusts/hates him.
Even Dillon will rape Sienna if you have a low relationship with him (constantly refuse to eat and never have sex with him). Sienna also will not confide in him.
I think you'll also be pleased if you complete some special hidden events later on. It's a ways off but you'll find a few places that have a single colored word in the text. Hopefully the hints are obvious, but if you ever get stuck at some point then let me know and I'll either give more hints or the solution.