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Reborn Again is a modern world setting, and in civilized parts of the world, people are required to carry licenses for the weapons they hold, whether they are more archaic weapons such as swords or spears, or modern firearms and explosives. Generally, people are allowed the means to defend themselves, but that means is regulated strictly (meaning yes, licenses are checked very often.)
If this seems strange, just keep in mind that the world basically evolved from the Breath of Fire games where there were always monsters constantly roaming around the wilderness and spaces between towns. To this day the world still mostly convenes in cities (more like city-states than true nations) almost out of habit, though nowadays monsters are not nearly as common and usually dealt with by Rangers or Gatekeepers. Fewer civilians feel the need to carry their own weapons at this point – particularly since the process of gaining the right is rigorous and often fraught with delays – but the option is still there.
Vehicles are also required some sort of license which states the owner can drive / sail / pilot them properly. These and other item types are detailed below (with page refs to BESM 3rd when needed).
There are no specific licences for Armor and Shields (both of which have corresponding Attribute types). They are one of the least restricted Attribute types, assuming you are buying it as an item you wear, and not as an activated Spell or innate racial Ability.
The “restrictions” are mainly just social. If you go around wearing animal skills or Archaic armor types in modern civilization, you'll definitely be looked upon oddly. Shields and Heavy Body Armor are also considered odd… unless you're a Ranger or policeman in riot gear. The other types of Modern Armor (Thick Leather Jacket, Light and Medium Body Armor) could be bought normally and worn, though you'll probably want to wear clothes to conceal the Body Armor types from view.
Again, armor and shields are bought as Attributes. Page 20 shows the armor levels: thick leather jacket would be level 1-2, heavier leathers (such as hide or leather armor you might see among the non-civilized Woren tribes) level 3-4. For the modern body armors, light armor is level 5-6, medium armor level 7-8. 8 is the highest level of armor you'll normally be able to buy.
These are created with the Item Attribute, and also require no licenses. You more or less just bind various other Attributes to the Items to create something useful. You *could* potentially conceal a lethal weapon or magical effect as an ordinary item this way, which is one way to get around the various licenses. This doesn't guarantee you won't EVER get caught, though, as someone with Heightened Senses, Sixth Sense or Telepathy (among other things) may be able to see through you ruse.
Mostly, you should stick with restricting your Item creation to useful, non-lethal objects. Only create an Item as an Attribute if it's going to offer a benefit worth the points! Some suggestions can be found in “Adventuring Gear” (p. 176-177); the VR helmet is beyond the scope of Reborn Again's technology level, though.
Pages 172-176 cover Vehicles, which are also created with the Item Attribute. There are a few templates here that you can use and tweak: both Automobile types, Motorcycle and Powerboat. Don't take any of the Archaic vehicles, Modern military vehicles, or Futuristic vehicles. Military vehicles are definitely out of the question.
Owning a vehicle requires a license for operating that vehicle. Insurance is implied, too, but we'll just assume it's taken care of. Unlike the other types of licenses, I'll let you assume you have ONE type of vehicle license (driver's license, motorcycle license, sailing license) without actually owning the vehicle type. You should probably get yourself at least one point in Driving Skill if you think you might be doing crazy stunts in your vehicle, though.
If you want additional vehicle licenses besides the free one, you'll have to buy the type of vehicle you want the second (third…) license for.
But you don't *have* to buy one. The game will provide a means of transportation, if you don't have one, OR you can have a Teleportation License (under Portal Magic). This is just in case you actually wanted to own a vehicle of your own, rather than drive one owned by your employers. Or steal them. I'm sure none of you will want to do that! :D
For physical weapons, there are five different licenses - Melee Weapons, Short Range Weapons, Long Range Weapons, Dangerous Substances and Special Weapons. Melee and Short Range Weapons are the most permissive types; civilians are allowed to carry them for defense, so long as they have been trained in their use and pass the license test. Long Range Weapon permits are usually given to hunters, police, Rangers, sometimes mercenaries and guards. Dangerous Substances requires more specialty: those trained to handle volatile chemicals, as well as certain government employees. The final group, Special Weapons, is usually considered case by case.
Licenses are usually given for each specific weapon you carry, except those that are termed “Unlicensed” (mostly items not originally intended to be weapons, or weapons too easily created with ordinary items to be considered for licensing). Assume that you have licenses arranged for the ones you already own and are able to use – you will have to obtain a license for any of the other weapons you find, or turn them into the appropriate authorities.
Below is a selection of weapons available in Reborn Again, referring to Table 12-1 (p. 166-168), and arranged by license type. You'll notice that Reborn Again uses both Archaic and Modern type weapons; just consider that the Archaic weapons have been made with modern construction in mind. Any such weapon in the hands of the PCs ought to be specially made, special weapons that can contend with modern armor and machinery.
All Archaic Melee and Modern Melee weapons except those listed in “Unlicensed Weapons”, below. (Note: refer to 'Police Baton' as a truncheon or nightstick, if you're not part of the Rangers or other police force.)
All Archaic Ranged weapons except those listed in “Unlicensed Weapons”, below. Also includes all types of Pistol, all types of Shotgun, Slingshot and Submachine Gun from Modern Ranged Weapons.
This includes Light Machine Guns and all types of Rifles. It can also include Catapults and Ballistas, though in this case only the one actually owning the weapon needs to have a license (so long as he or she is present in its operation, none of those assisting in firing it need to also have a license.)
This is a special category, since acids, explosions and poisons are expendable. Instead the license allows one to carry such substances on their person. For incendiary substances, this can include improvised explosives such as molotov cocktails, or “ready made” ones such as grenades. Chemicals and poisons are categorized by their morbidity, and it's more likely that you'd get a license for a specific type than a broad “can carry all acids / poisons in existence” license.
Weapons that do not fit well into the other categories, or are needed for specialized jobs. These include Chainsaws, Flame Throwers, Tasers, Water Cannons, and can also include any other sort of odd weapon that is not listed, but does not fit into the category of improvised weapon (which are generally considered unlicensed, since their *original* purpose is NOT to be employed as a weapon).
Brass Knuckles, Bokken, Club, Knife/Dagger, Quarterstaff, Sap, Wooden Stake, Bola, Throwing Knife, Lasso, Net, all types of Rock or Small Object, Sling, all types of Ram, Pepper Spray, Paintball Marker. These can all be carried without the need for a weapon license, as well as any other ordinary item that you might be able to use as an improvised weapon. However, some or all of these may still be confiscated if carried in certain restricted areas.