A topic from AEG's L5R CCG Rules forum, copied for Oracle of the Void from a copy of the forum saved in October 2015, so pages it didn't save are missing. Players' names are left out; the rules officials are named. Rulings are as they stood on these dates; later rulings, the rulebooks and the Rules Archive may differ.
A player, 15 October 2014
According to Ivory Advanced Rulebook, pages 33, 36, and 39:
"Fear X" is shorthand for the effect "Bow a target Follower or Personality without Followers with X or lower Force."
"Ranged X", where X stands for a number, is shorthand for the text "Destroy a target enemy Follower or Personality without Followers with X or lower Force."
Melee Attack: These follow the same rules as Ranged Attacks
Does this mean that it is illegal to target a Fear, Melee or Ranged attack against a target that it cannot bow or destroy? More importantly, is it illegal to redirect a F/M/R 2 to a Follower or Personality without Followers with 3 or higher Force?
Alex Jones (rules official), 15 October 2014
According to Ivory Advanced Rulebook, pages 33, 36, and 39:
Does this mean that it is illegal to target a Fear, Melee or Ranged attack against a target that it cannot bow or destroy? More importantly, is it illegal to redirect a F/M/R 2 to a Follower or Personality without Followers with 3 or higher Force?
The target's force is not a targeting restriction for Ranged, Melee and Fear Attacks.
According to p58 of the Comprehensive Rules, which you can find here, "Ranged X Attack", where X stands for a number, is shorthand for the text "Target a Follower or a Personality without Followers in the current enemy army. If its Force is equal to or less than X, destroy it."
Melee and Fear Attacks are similar.