Sliders and UI interfaces
 

Is there any way to make one slider in a UI interface that controls more than one attribute? For example, I want to have one slider change the conserve of four separate particles. Thanks!

yeah you can use set driven keys, expressions, or script it.

As FB said, use SDK's. These are fantastic additions that make a lot of animation a lot easier. I had one for a hnad control a whil back with an Custom Attribute created for each finger and one for the fist. I even think Kurt has gone over this in one of the tutes he did on hand controls.