this is a start, something up with asset_tag unique rule

app/Http/Controllers/Api/AssetsController.php

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 namespace App\Http\Controllers\Api;
 
 use App\Events\CheckoutableCheckedIn;
+use App\Http\Requests\StoreAssetRequest;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Gate;
 use App\Helpers\Helper;
 use App\Http\Controllers\Controller;
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ use TCPDF;
 use Validator;
 use Route;
 
+
 /**
  * This class controls all actions related to assets for
  * the Snipe-IT Asset Management application.
@@ -532,7 +534,7 @@ class AssetsController extends Controller
      * @since [v4.0]
      * @return \Illuminate\Http\JsonResponse
      */
-    public function store(ImageUploadRequest $request)
+    public function store(StoreAssetRequest $request)
     {
         $this->authorize('create', Asset::class);
 

app/Http/Requests/StoreAssetRequest.php

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Http\Requests;
+
+use App\Models\Asset;
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Http\FormRequest;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Gate;
+
+class StoreAssetRequest extends ImageUploadRequest
+{
+    /**
+     * Determine if the user is authorized to make this request.
+     *
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    public function authorize(): bool
+    {
+        //TODO: make sure this works
+        //return Gate::allows('create', new Asset);
+    }
+
+    public function prepareForValidation(): void
+    {
+        //
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the validation rules that apply to the request.
+     *
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public function rules(): array
+    {
+        $rules = array_merge(
+            (new Asset)->getRules(),
+            parent::rules(),
+        );
+
+        if(!$this->expectsJson()) {
+            //accepts an array for the gui form
+            $rules['asset_tags.*'] = $rules['asset_tag'];
+            unset($rules['asset_tag']);
+            $rules['serials.*'] = $rules['serial'];
+            unset($rules['serial']);
+        }
+
+        return $rules;
+    }
+}