Voodoo: Thoughts and Does anyone Use It? Options

[Tadite]

I am a SR3 newbie as the last time I played a game we were using the old Bug City sourcebook.

One of the players in my new group is thinking about being a voodoo practicener and as he is from New Orleans he has some idea about the background to this character and how he could work him into the story. He also understands the real world religion so that is not the problem.

My questions are theirfor on the practical side. I was looking for advice on how to play the character from a power standpoint. I understand the ways and means of shamans and mages but really have no real life understanding of how Houngans can compete from a combat standpoint.

How have you found the rules on summoning of loas? I personally think it seems to be very complecated in comparison to a shaman and the Houngans as a whole seem to be by far the most complecated of all the mage users. Also do you allow the player to control the character when they are hosting a loa or should the GM?

Lastly should I just tell the guy that the voodoo rules are just not worth the trouble and that it would be easier to just play a normal shaman with a gulf coast bent?

My biggest worry is what if he comes up with some reason to "raise the dead" should this be a problem or should I just say thats just not done?

Note: I read the databases posts on this subject but unforchentiy it seem to become a flame war and was not helpful from a rules point of view.

Thanks for you time.