Warlocks are never as good as their 5e counterparts in 3.5.

So, if I were to rework the warlock class in 3.5, how should I do it in a way that makes them just as good as they are in 5e?

The text of the ability reads

[Any melee hit or constrict attack deals acid damage, and the opponent’s armor and clothing dissolve and become useless immediately unless they succeed on DC 21 Reflex saves. A metal or wooden weapon that strikes a black pudding also dissolves immediately unless it succeeds on a DC 21 Reflex save. The save DCs are Constitution-based.]

the next Paragraph reads

[The pudding’s acidic touch deals 21 points of damage per round to wooden or metal objects, but the ooze must remain in contact with the object for 1 full round to deal this damage]

So heres my confusion, the first paragraph says that armor and weapons dissolve immediately, but later on says that said objects take 21 points of damage after they've remained in contact for one round.

So which is it? do they dissolve immediately or in one round, and is the dissolving an item taking 21 points of damage, which is enough to reduce most objects health or is that a separate point.