Variety could be added by throwing in fighters (something we didn't see first time around) it's different in the sense that (in the immortal words of the Hollywood trailers) this time it's personal.

It's an extension of the quest of Vader to find Luke we saw in ESB (something he is forced to call off when the Emperor turns up).

Vader must know Luke will eventually turn up to rescue Han and as with ESB he would want his friends too for leverage.

The only person who could stop Vader from continuing on that course would be his boss and it would be nice to see Luke shoot something in his X-Wing one last time.