KEY FRAME ANY ATTRIBUTE!

It is important to remember that you have the ability to keyframe any attribute within Maya (RMB on an attribute and Set Key). This will be useful in having more control over your simulations. For example you can keyframe Continuous Emission off when you want to end new particles being emitted, or you can choose to keyframe on a setting like Clamp Velocity on your Motion Field to slow the particles down after a certain point.