🚀 go-pugleaf

I need any information on how to redefine the IBM ASCII character set 
*WITHOUT* going into graphics mode. I know it involves interupts
and can be done without having to redefine the ENTIRE character set.
i.e. I would like to keep the alphabet and numbers but want to make
      all the other characters into happy faces, trees, etc.

Can it be done?
I tried to do it on my IBM which uses MCGA graphics and I have a sneaking
suspicion that if it can be done it can only be done on VGA cards or higher.
I *HAD* an example of how to do this but it didn't work and now I've lost it.
If someone could post or email me the exact C code on how to do it (I'm  using
Borland's Turbo C) I would be most appreciative.

Essentially, I don't need smooth flowing graphics in my game and would like to
take advantage of the speed of printing out characters in text mode.
i.e. I could have three hundred happy faces flying around without much slowdown
      or problems determining wether they were hit.

THANKS A MILLION. This info would help me a lot. Please reply
if you know of any way to do it on ANY card. I am stuck!

P.S. The example I used accessed registers and was supposed to redefine the letter 'a' only.
         It didn't - (AND IT CAME STRAIGHT FROM BORLAND TOO!)