If you haven't done so, I highly suggest you guys decompile dod_charlie_source with vmex, and see how this mapper made the huge "particles" resulting from two of the planes bombs.

We'll all agree the map could have used a lot more work, but this one particular technique was a first time for me.

It's actually a huge brush (or should I say many brushes), textured with decals, that moves up from underneath the beach for a brief moment.

Have a look at all the outputs/inputs as well, you'll most probably learn a thing or two.

Yeah, its the only way to generate particles on a mass scale. Try a smokestack, steam, dustpuff or any other method and the map won't load if its on a large scale.