Easy to figure out for something like LEDs, where you know the input voltage and the amperage of the LED, and need to meet the voltage of the LED's diode.
A bit harder here w/o some real-world observations. Each fan model will need different resistors, although I expect they wouldn't be too different for the larger fans since they are about the same size. And the goal here is a different RPM, not a set voltage - which will be subjective, thus the need for observations.
Resistor value X may be perfect as a "low" setting for brand Y, but be closer to "medium" for brand Z. Since your 10 ohm resistor is roughly "medium" for your fan, I'd say the first thing to try is a potentiometer that has an off setting and runs from 0 to maybe 30 ohms.